Carnival
/ˈkɑːrnɪvəl/
nounBeginner📊CommonArts
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
A period of revelry, merrymaking, or festivities, often associated with Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). It often features parades, costumes, music, and food.
/ˈkɑːrnɪvəl/
nounpositiveBeginner
Arts
A period of revelry, typically associated with Shrove Tuesday.
The children loved the carnival rides.
💡 Simply: A fun celebration with parades and costumes.
More Examples
2
We went to the carnival and ate cotton candy.
How It's Used
Cultural
"The Rio Carnival is famous worldwide for its vibrant costumes and parades."
Entertainment
"The town held a small carnival with rides and games."
From Medieval Latin *carnelevārium, from Latin carnelevare "to remove flesh", referring to the period before Lent when meat was forbidden.
Historically, carnivals were associated with the period before Lent, and featured feasting and merrymaking before the period of fasting.
Memory tip
Think 'carne' (meat) and 'vale' (farewell) – a farewell to meat before Lent.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"to remove flesh"
carnival atmospherecarnival gamescarnival parade
Common misspellings
carnivallecarnvialcarnivall
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written