1
[ noun ] a formal event performed on a special occasion

Examples

"a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor"

Used in print

(The New York Times,...)

At a ceremony in the reception_room of Mayor_Richardson_Dilworth , the Eagles were honored for winning the championship .

A crowd of 1400 is expected for the ceremonies , which will be followed by the show in which the writers will lampoon baseball personalities in skit , dance and song .

(St. Louis Post-Dispatch,...)

`` You often hear people talk_about team_spirit and that sort of thing '' , Benington said in a conversation after the ceremonies , `` but what this team had was a_little different .

(Nathan Rapport, ""I've Been Here before!"...)

One day when he attended a war memorial ceremony in Westminster_Abbey his view was obstructed by a stout man on his left , his attention turned to the irregular pattern of the rough slab flooring and someone , clasping him by the arm , whispered , `` I want a word with you , please '' .

(Frank Oppenheimer, "Science and Fear-- A Discussion...)

It is curious that even centuries of repetition of the yearly cycle did not induce a sufficient degree of confidence to allow people to abandon the ceremonies of the winter_solstice .

2
[ noun ] any activity that is performed in an especially solemn elaborate or formal way

Examples

"the ceremony of smelling the cork and tasting the wine" "he makes a ceremony of addressing his golf ball" "he disposed of it without ceremony"

Used in print

(E. Lucas Myers, "The Vindication of Dr. Nestor,"...)

`` Comment '' ? ejaculated the surprised woman , looking at Alex for an explanation but he , parting from her without ceremony , only offered a_few words about the doctor 's provincial American speech and a state of nerves brought_on by the demands of his work .

Related terms

activity chanoyu

3
[ noun ] the proper or conventional behavior on some solemn occasion

Examples

"an inaugural ceremony"

Used in print

(Frank Oppenheimer, "Science and Fear-- A Discussion...)

We perform elaborate international exhortations and ceremonies with virtually no understanding of social cause and effect .

(Evan Esar, Humorous English; a guide to comic ,...)

A news item described the launching of a ship : `` Completing the ceremony , the beautiful movie_star smashed a bottle of champagne over her stern as she slid gracefully down the ways into the sea '' .

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