The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Charade \Cha*rade"\, n. [F. charade, cf. Pr. charrada long chat,
   It ciarlare to chat, whence E. charlatan.]
   A verbal or acted enigma based upon a word which has two or
   more significant syllables or parts, each of which, as well
   as the word itself, is to be guessed from the descriptions or
   representations.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

charade
    n 1: a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's
         style, usually in a humorous way [syn: parody, lampoon,
         spoof, sendup, mockery, takeoff, burlesque,
         travesty, charade, pasquinade, put-on]
    2: a word acted out in an episode of the game of charades