carnival
carnival Lexical Profile
carnival Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A traveling outdoor amusement show featuring mechanical rides, games of chance and skill, food stalls, and sideshows.
"The children spent the entire afternoon riding the Ferris wheel and playing ring-toss games at the local summer carnival."
An annual period of public celebration, parades, music, and costumed street parties held in many Roman Catholic and Christian regions in the days or weeks leading up to Lent.
"Thousands of visitors travel to Rio de Janeiro and Venice every year to experience the vibrant music and elaborate costumes of the traditional carnival."
Any lively, colorful, or riotous scene of merrymaking, celebration, or exciting entertainment.
"Autumn in the mountains becomes a dazzling carnival of crimson, gold, and amber foliage."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Italian 'carnevale', from Medieval Latin 'carnelevarium' or 'carnelevamen', literally meaning 'the putting away or removal of meat' (from Latin 'caro', 'carn-' meaning 'flesh' and 'levare' meaning 'to lighten or put away'), referring to the start of the Lenten fast.