First Known Use: 1549
Dictionary
1carnival
noun car·ni·val \ˈkär-nə-vəl\
: a festival held before Lent that includes music and dancing [= count ]
: a form of entertainment that travels to different places and includes rides and games you can play to win prizes
: an event where many people gather to celebrate something
Full Definition of CARNIVAL
1
: a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
2
a : an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading b : an instance of riotous excess <a carnival of violence>
3
a : a traveling enterprise offering amusements b : an organized program of entertainment or exhibition : festival <a winter carnival>
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Origin of CARNIVAL
Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro) + levare to remove, from Latin, to raise
Related to CARNIVAL
Other Performing Arts Terms
2carnival
adjective
Definition of CARNIVAL
: suggestive of or suited to a carnival <a carnival atmosphere> <carnival colors>
First Known Use of CARNIVAL
1605
CARNIVAL[1] Defined for Kids
carnival
noun car·ni·val \ˈkär-nə-vəl\
Definition of CARNIVAL for Kids
1
: a form of entertainment that travels from town to town and includes rides and games
2
: an organized program of entertainment or exhibition : festival <a winter carnival>
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