carnival
[ kahr-nuh-vuhl ]
/ ˈkɑr nə vəl /
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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.
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM carnival
car·ni·val·esque, car·ni·val·like, adjectivepre·car·ni·val, adjectiveWords nearby carnival
carnification, carnify, Carniola, carnitas, carnitine, carnival, carnivalesque, carnival glass, Carnivora, carnivore, carnivorous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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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)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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