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definitions

carol

[kar-uh l]
See more synonyms for carol on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a song, especially of joy.
  2. a Christmas song or hymn.
  3. a seat in a bay window or oriel.
  4. a compartment in a cloister, similar to a carrel.
  5. a kind of circular dance.
verb (used without object), car·oled, car·ol·ing or (especially British) car·olled, car·ol·ling.
  1. to sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house.
  2. to sing, especially in a lively, joyous manner; warble.
verb (used with object), car·oled, car·ol·ing or (especially British) car·olled, car·ol·ling.
  1. to sing joyously.
  2. to praise or celebrate in song.

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
Related formscar·ol·er; especially British, car·ol·ler, nounout·car·ol, verb (used with object), out·car·oled, out·car·ol·ing or (especially British) out·car·olled, out·car·ol·ling.un·car·oled, adjectiveun·car·olled, adjective

Carol

[kar-uh l]
noun
  1. a male or female given name.

Carol.

  1. Carolingian.

Carol II

[kar-uh l; Romanian kah-rawl]
noun
  1. 1893–1953, king of Romania 1930–40.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for carol

song, chorus, strain, lay, ditty, ballad, madrigal, canticle, Noel, canzonet

Examples from the Web for carol

Contemporary Examples of carol

Historical Examples of carol

  • "Carol, see and get an ass to put these kishes on," said Ussher.

  • "I think you're quite wrong there, Carol," said Dora, interrupting her.

    The Missionary

    George Griffith

  • "Which is its own reward, and generally doesn't get it," laughed Carol, colouring slightly.

    The Missionary

    George Griffith

  • "I don't think there is much misunderstanding, Carol," said Dora.

    The Missionary

    George Griffith

  • I promised Carol that I should not say anything about it until she was out of England.

    The Missionary

    George Griffith

British Dictionary definitions for carol

carol

noun
  1. a joyful hymn or religious song, esp one (a Christmas carol) celebrating the birth of Christ
  2. archaic an old English circular dance
verb -ols, -olling or -olled or US -ols, -oling or -oled
  1. (intr) to sing carols at Christmas
  2. to sing (something) in a joyful manner
Derived Formscaroler or caroller, nouncaroling or carolling, noun

Word Origin for carol

C13: from Old French, of uncertain origin

Carol II

noun
  1. 1893–1953, king of Romania (1930–40), who was deposed by the Iron Guard
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.

Carol

masc. proper name, from Medieval Latin Carolus (see Charles). As a fem. proper name, an abbreviation of Caroline. The masc. name never has been popular in U.S.; the fem. form was common after c.1900 and was a top-10 name for U.S. girls born 1936-1950.

v.

c.1300, "to dance in a ring," from Old French caroler, from carole (see carol (n.)). As "to sing" from late 14c. Related: Caroled; caroling.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper