carnival
[ kahr-nuh-vuhl ]
/ ˈkɑr nə vəl /
noun
a traveling amusement show, having sideshows, rides, etc.
any merrymaking, revelry, or festival, as a program of sports or entertainment: a winter carnival.
the season immediately preceding Lent, often observed with merrymaking; Shrovetide.
Origin of carnival
1540–50; < Italian
carnevale, Old Italian
carnelevare taking meat away, equivalent to
carne flesh (< Latin
carnem, accusative of
caro) +
levare < Latin
levāre to lift
SYNONYMS FOR carnival
OTHER WORDS FROM carnival
car·ni·val·esque, car·ni·val·like, adjective pre·car·ni·val, adjectiveWords nearby carnival
carnification,
carnify,
carniola,
carnitas,
carnitine,
carnival,
carnival glass,
carnivalesque,
carnivora,
carnivore,
carnivorous
Example sentences from the Web for carnival
British Dictionary definitions for carnival
carnival
/ (ˈkɑːnɪvəl) /
noun
- a festive occasion or period marked by merrymaking, processions, etc: esp in some Roman Catholic countries, the period just before Lent
- (as modifier)a carnival atmosphere
a travelling fair having merry-go-rounds, etc
a show or display arranged as an amusement
Australian
a sports meeting
Word Origin for carnival
C16: from Italian
carnevale, from Old Italian
carnelevare a removing of meat (referring to the Lenten fast)