Carol

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkæɹəl/
• Rhymes: -æɹəl

Origin

From Old French carole, from Old Italian carola, from Medieval Latin choraula, from Ancient Greek χοραυλής (choravles, "one who accompanies a chorus on the flute"), from χορός (choros, "dance, choir") + αὐλός (avlos, "flute"). Compare chorus, terpsichorean.

Full definition of carol

Noun

1. (historical) A round dance accompanied by singing.
2. A song of joy.
• Drydenthe costly feast, the carol, and the dance
• 1908, Kenneth Grahame, The sunshine struck hot on his fur, soft breezes caressed his heated brow, and after the seclusion of the cellarage he had lived in so long the carol of happy birds fell on his dulled hearing almost like a shout.
3. A religious song or ballad of joy.They sang a Christmas carol.
• KebleIn the darkness sing your carol of high praise.
• LongfellowI heard the bells on Christmas Day
  Their old, familiar carol play.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To sing in a joyful manner.
• Spensercarol of love's high praise
• BeattieThe gray linnets carol from the hill.
2. (intransitive) To sing carols, especially Christmas carols in a group.
3. (transitive) To praise or celebrate in song.
• MiltonThe shepherds at their festivals
  Carol her goodness.
4. (transitive) To sing (a song) cheerfully.
• PriorHovering swans ... carol sounds harmonious.

Anagrams

• Carlo, coral, Coral