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• carol
  carol

  noun

  a song, especially of joy.
• Carol
  Carol

  noun

  a male or female given name.
• Carol.
  Carol.

  abbreviation

  Carolingian.

carol

¹ American  

[kar-uhl] / ˈkær əl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

caroled, caroling, carolled, carolling

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)

caroled, caroling, carolled, carolling

1. to sing joyously.

2. to praise or celebrate in song.

Carol ² American  

[kar-uhl] / ˈkær əl /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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Carol. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Carolingian.

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carol British  

/ ˈkærəl /

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

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verb

1. (intr) to sing carols at Christmas

2. to sing (something) in a joyful manner

Other Word Forms

• caroler
  noun
• caroling
  noun
• outcarol
  verb (used with object)
• uncaroled
  adjective
• uncarolled
  adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

A carol is a religious song that's sung around Christmas time. In some towns, people who celebrate Christmas go to neighbors' houses and sing carols. The most well-known carols are Christmas carols, but word applies to other religious songs as well. Various hymns and folk songs are sometimes called carols, and you can use the word as a verb to mean "sing a carol." In the 14th century, carol meant "to sing," but also "to dance in a ring," from the Old French carole, "ring dance accompanied by singers," probably from the Greek khoraules, "flute player who accompanies the dance."

Example Sentences

Britain's Princess Catherine and her daughter Charlotte have teamed up to perform a piano duet in a prerecorded clip for a Wednesday replay of a Christmas carol service.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Many children find themselves singing at school in the run up to Christmas - at a nativity play or carol concert, often with parents watching proudly on.

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025

The King, who seemed in festive form, joked with carol singers that they must be "moonlighting from the Royal Opera House" and teased reporters that they were not getting to test the drinks on display.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

There was also a 14th-Century carol, and prayers sung in Latin, which rose up in the high ceilings of the medieval Abbey.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

They sat around for a while drinking cider and listening to a Christmas carol program.

From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder