carol
[kar-uh l]
- a song, especially of joy.
- a Christmas song or hymn.
- a seat in a bay window or oriel.
- a compartment in a cloister, similar to a carrel.
- a kind of circular dance.
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- to sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house.
- to sing, especially in a lively, joyous manner; warble.
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- to sing joyously.
- to praise or celebrate in song.
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Origin of carol
1250–1300; Middle English carole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study (see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) < Anglo-French carole, Old French *corole (compare Old Provençal corola), apparently < Latin corolla garland (see corolla), conflated with Latin choraula < Greek choraúlēs piper for choral dance, equivalent to chor(ós) chorus + -aulēs, derivative of aulós pipe
Carol
[kar-uh l]
- a male or female given name.
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Carol.
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Carol II
[kar-uh l; Romanian kah-rawl]
- 1893–1953, king of Romania 1930–40.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for carol
Contemporary Examples
There was Carol White, a ho-hum homemaker who finds herself besieged by multiple chemical sensitivity in Safe.
A Christmas Carol revived and reinvented it around the gift of giving.
Finally, a score or so of films have been made of the story, some called A Christmas Carol and others, simply, Scrooge.
When A Christmas Carol was published just in time for the Christmas of 1843, the holiday had been in a long decline in England.
By that logic however, Carol is also being floated as a possible casualty of the episode.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason FinaleMelissa Leon
November 24, 2014
Historical Examples
"Carol, see and get an ass to put these kishes on," said Ussher.
The Macdermots of BallycloranAnthony Trollope
"Which is its own reward, and generally doesn't get it," laughed Carol, colouring slightly.
The MissionaryGeorge Griffith
"I think you're quite wrong there, Carol," said Dora, interrupting her.
The MissionaryGeorge Griffith
"I don't think there is much misunderstanding, Carol," said Dora.
The MissionaryGeorge Griffith
I promised Carol that I should not say anything about it until she was out of England.
The MissionaryGeorge Griffith
carol
- a joyful hymn or religious song, esp one (a Christmas carol) celebrating the birth of Christ
- archaic an old English circular dance
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- (intr) to sing carols at Christmas
- to sing (something) in a joyful manner
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French, of uncertain origin
Carol II
- 1893–1953, king of Romania (1930–40), who was deposed by the Iron Guard
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for carol
n.
c.1300, "joyful song," also "dance in a ring," from Old French carole "kind of dance in a ring, round dance accompanied by singers," perhaps from Medieval Latin choraula "a dance to the flute," from Latin choraules "flute-player," from Greek khoraules "flute player who accompanies the choral dance," from khoros "chorus" (see chorus) + aulein "to play the flute," from aulos "reed instrument" (see alveolus). The meaning "Christmas hymn of joy" is attested from c.1500.
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Carol
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper