camouflage
camouflage — noun
1. paint, fabric, netting, or natural materials that soldiers and the military use
paint, fabric, netting, or natural materials that soldiers and the military use to make themselves, their vehicles, and their equipment look like the surrounding land or plants so that enemies cannot see them
The soldiers applied green and brown camouflage to their helmets before the patrol.
collocation: apply camouflage
Wren packed camouflage netting in her backpack for the outdoor training exercise.
noun used as adjective: camouflage netting
Military vehicles are painted in desert camouflage when they are sent to sandy regions.
The army stored rolls of camouflage fabric in a hidden bunker near the river.
- concealment
more general term for keeping something hidden, not limited to visual blending with background
- disguise
changes how something looks or appears, but not necessarily to match a background
- cover
less specific; anything used to hide or protect
- exposure
state of being visible or uncovered
文法句型
camouflage for [military purpose]
用法筆記
Often used as a modifier before a noun: camouflage uniform, camouflage paint, camouflage pattern.
常見錯誤
2. the set of natural colours, body markings, or physical features that allow a liv
the set of natural colours, body markings, or physical features that allow a living creature to stay hidden in its surroundings, such as among leaves, rocks, or snow, so that predators or prey cannot find it
A chameleon's camouflage is so effective that it can disappear against tree bark in seconds.
collocation: effective camouflage
The polar bear's white fur gives it perfect camouflage in the snowy Arctic landscape.
collocation: perfect camouflage
Some insects rely on camouflage to look exactly like a dry leaf or a twig.
The butterfly's wing pattern is a camouflage that protects it from hungry birds above.
- protective coloration
more technical term used in biology for colouring that helps an animal survive
文法句型
camouflage of [animal/plant]
用法筆記
In biology contexts, this sense overlaps with 'mimicry', but mimicry specifically means looking like another species, while camouflage means blending with the non-living background.
常見錯誤
3. something that hides the real nature of a situation, a person's true feelings, o
something that hides the real nature of a situation, a person's true feelings, or the actual purpose of an action, usually to avoid blame, criticism, or discovery
Mateo's cheerful attitude was only a camouflage for the deep sadness he felt inside.
pattern: camouflage for [true feeling]
The company's environmental project served as camouflage for its polluting factories nearby.
pattern: serve as camouflage for
Lan used her constant busyness as camouflage to avoid answering difficult questions from her family.
The fancy job title was just camouflage for a low-paid job with few real duties.
- front
emphasises a false appearance put on to deceive others
- façade
suggests a more deliberate, often long-term false appearance
- smokescreen
suggests an action or statement that distracts from the real issue
- truth
the actual facts not hidden or disguised
文法句型
camouflage for [hidden purpose]
用法筆記
Frequently found in the patterns 'camouflage for [something]' and 'serve as camouflage'. Common in news and business writing about misleading claims or hidden agendas.
camouflage — verb
- camouflagepresent simple I / you / we / they
- camouflages3rd person singular
- camouflaging-ing form
- camouflagedpast simple
1. to hide soldiers, vehicles, weapons, or buildings by covering them with paint, n
to hide soldiers, vehicles, weapons, or buildings by covering them with paint, nets, leaves, or other materials so that they blend in with the surrounding land or plants
The soldiers camouflaged their tents with branches and mud before the morning patrol began.
pattern: camouflage [object] with [material]
Brian learned how to camouflage a military jeep using only local plants and dry soil.
pattern: camouflage [vehicle] using [materials]
Takeshi carefully camouflaged the supply boxes with a thick layer of straw and leaves.
The radar station was effectively camouflaged behind a row of tall pine trees.
- expose
to leave something visible or unprotected
文法句型
camouflage + object (soldiers/vehicles/equipment)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('was camouflaged') to describe the state of objects rather than the act of hiding them.
常見錯誤
2. (of a living thing) to blend naturally into the surrounding environment through
(of a living thing) to blend naturally into the surrounding environment through body colour, pattern, or shape so that predators or prey cannot easily see it
Many deep-sea fish camouflage themselves against the dark ocean floor to avoid being eaten.
reflexive: camouflage themselves against
The snowshoe hare camouflages perfectly when winter turns its fur from brown to white.
intransitive: camouflages perfectly
These tropical moths camouflage so well that birds fly past without noticing them at all.
A leopard's spotted coat helps it camouflage among the sunlit leaves of the forest canopy.
- blend in
less formal; can apply to people and objects, not just animals
- merge into
suggests becoming part of the background seamlessly
- stand out
to be very noticeable against the background
文法句型
camouflage (no object)
camouflage + oneself
用法筆記
When used intransitively (no object), the subject is always an animal or plant. With a reflexive pronoun ('camouflage itself'), the subject performs the blending action deliberately, though biologically it is instinctive.
3. to hide mistakes, unpleasant facts, or the real nature of something from other p
to hide mistakes, unpleasant facts, or the real nature of something from other people, usually by presenting a different version or by distracting attention
The politician tried to camouflage his past mistakes with a series of expensive new promises.
pattern: camouflage [mistakes] with [distraction]
Felipe camouflaged his nervousness by telling jokes throughout the important company meeting.
pattern: camouflage [feeling] by [action]
The official report camouflaged the real cost of the bridge project behind complex financial tables.
Sana camouflaged her disappointment with a cheerful wave as she left the interview room.
- reveal
to make something known that was hidden
文法句型
camouflage + object (feelings/mistakes/truth)
用法筆記
The object is usually an abstract noun: feelings (nervousness, disappointment, anger), failings (mistakes, errors), or unpleasant realities (cost, truth, facts). The means is introduced by 'with' or 'behind'.
常見錯誤
camouflage — adjective
- camouflagepositive
- more camouflagecomparative
- most camouflagesuperlative
1. made from fabric or material that has a pattern of irregular green, brown, black
made from fabric or material that has a pattern of irregular green, brown, black, and tan patches, designed to help the wearer blend in with outdoor surroundings
Zola bought a camouflage jacket for her weekend hiking trips in the national park.
collocation: camouflage jacket
The soldiers wore camouflage uniforms that matched the jungle colours almost perfectly.
collocation: camouflage uniform
Darius painted his hunting blind with camouflage colours to stay hidden from the deer.
Ines carried a camouflage backpack that blended with the rocks along the mountain trail.
- camouflage-print
emphasises that the item has a printed pattern rather than being made for military use
- camo
informal shortened form, very common in casual speech (e.g. 'camo jacket')
文法句型
camouflage + noun (clothing/gear)
用法筆記
Always placed before the noun it describes. Unlike many colour adjectives, 'camouflage' cannot be used after a linking verb (❌ 'The jacket is camouflage').