Final answer:
The term 'parasol' is a synonym for 'umbrella,' often used to describe a device designed to provide shade from the sun. The use of umbrella in various contexts can be both practical and symbolic, as illustrated by different artistic representations and projects like those described in LibreTexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
A synonym for "umbrella" is "parasol." The word parasol is typically used when referring to a device designed to protect from the sun rather than rain, but it can be used interchangeably with umbrella in some contexts. For instance, when reading a piece that includes the umbrella as a significant object, such as in LibreTexts where an umbrella is noted in a work of art or in literature, the terms may be used in a poetic or symbolic sense.
Similarly, Wolfgang Paalen's artwork titled "Articulated Cloud" features an unconventional umbrella that absorbs water, which engages the viewer to think beyond the umbrella's traditional function. Additionally, umbrella installations in artistic projects can transform the common perception of this object, turning it into both a practical tool and a medium for creative expression, as noted in the description of The Umbrellas project with blue and yellow umbrellas in Japan and California.