pare-soleil

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A flat object fixed above a window or worn on the head to block strong sunlight.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a pare-soleil' or 'pare-soleils' for more than one.

   Patterns

   • a pare-soleil over a window
   • wear a pare-soleil

   She lowered the pare-soleil to keep the glare off her desk.

   The hotel installed a white pare-soleil above every window.

   He wore a wide pare-soleil to protect his face from the midday sun.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A strip of material at the top of a car windscreen that reduces glare for the driver.

   Grammar: Often used in the plural 'pare-soleils' when talking about both sides of a car.

   Patterns

   • pull down the pare-soleil
   • adjust the pare-soleil

   He pulled down the pare-soleil to block the setting sun.

   The car's pare-soleil had a small mirror on the back.

   Both pare-soleils were broken, so the driver squinted all the way.

Word forms

Common combinations

adjust the pare-soleil

Please adjust the pare-soleil so the light doesn't hit your eyes.

a car's pare-soleil

The car's pare-soleil was loose and kept flopping down.

install a pare-soleil

They decided to install a pare-soleil above the shop window.

pull down the pare-soleil

She pulled down the pare-soleil as they drove west.

Synonyms and how they differ

sunshade

A more general word for anything that blocks sun; 'pare-soleil' is more specific to windows or cars.

visor

Usually means the movable flap inside a car; 'pare-soleil' can also mean a fixed architectural shade.

Commonly confused: pare-soleil or parasol?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “pare-soleil”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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