FETE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fete mean? 

• FETE (noun)
  The noun FETE has 2 senses:

1. an elaborate party (often outdoors)

2. an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place)

  Familiarity information: FETE used as a noun is rare.

• FETE (verb)
  The verb FETE has 1 sense:

1. have a celebration

  Familiarity information: FETE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FETE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An elaborate party (often outdoors)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

feast; fete; fiesta

Hypernyms ("fete" is a kind of...):

party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fete"):

luau (an elaborate Hawaiian feast or party (especially one accompanied by traditional foods and entertainment))

potlatch (a ceremonial feast held by some Indians of the northwestern coast of North America (as in celebrating a marriage or a new accession) in which the host gives gifts to tribesmen and others to display his superior wealth (sometimes, formerly, to his own impoverishment))

Derivation:

fete (have a celebration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

festival; fete

Context example:

a drama festival

Hypernyms ("fete" is a kind of...):

celebration; festivity (any joyous diversion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fete"):

carnival (a festival marked by merrymaking and processions)

Bacchanalia; Dionysia (an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus (= Bacchus))

eisteddfod (any of several annual Welsh festivals involving artistic competitions (especially in singing))

film festival (a cinematic festival that features films (usually films produced during the past year))

jazz festival (a festival that features performances by jazz artists)

Kwanza; Kwanzaa (a festival featuring African-American culture; celebrated between Christmas and New Year)

Oktoberfest (an autumn festival that involves merrymaking and drinking beer)

Saturnalia (an orgiastic festival in ancient Rome in honor of Saturn)

sheepshearing (a festival held at the time sheep are normally sheared)

• FETE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they fete    ... he / she / it fetes   
Past simple: feted   
Past participle: feted   
-ing form: feting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have a celebration

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

celebrate; fete

Context example:

After the exam, the students were celebrating

Hypernyms (to "fete" is one way to...):

get together; meet (get together socially or for a specific purpose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fete"):

jubilate (celebrate a jubilee)

jollify; make happy; make merry; make whoopie; racket; revel; wassail; whoop it up (celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities)

party (have or participate in a party)

receive (have or give a reception)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

fete (an elaborate party (often outdoors))

 Context examples 

Each had made such preparation for the fete as seemed necessary and proper.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

As she came walking in, looking very tired but as composed as ever, she observed that every vestige of the unfortunate fete had disappeared, except a suspicious pucker about the corners of Jo's mouth.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I should like to ask the girls out to lunch next week, to take them for a drive to the places they want to see, a row on the river, perhaps, and make a little artistic fete for them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

No one did for several months, but the word 'fete' always produced a general smile, and Laurie's birthday gift to Amy was a tiny coral lobster in the shape of a charm for her watch guard.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)