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Definition of carnival noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

carnival

noun
 
/ˈkɑːnɪvl/
 
/ˈkɑːrnɪvl/
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  1. [countable, uncountable] a public festival, usually one that happens at a regular time each year, that involves music and dancing in the streets, for which people wear brightly coloured clothes
    • There is a local carnival every year.
    • the carnival in Rio
    • a carnival atmosphere
    Topics Religion and festivalsb2
  2. [countable] (North American English)
    (also fair British and North American English, British English also funfair)
    a type of entertainment in a field or park at which people can ride on large machines and play games to win prizes
  3. [countable] an outdoor public event or celebration involving entertainment, games, food and drink, etc., often organized by a town or village
    • The children are getting ready for the village carnival.
    • Live music, sports demonstrations and a spectacular parade are all planned for this year's Woodley Carnival.
    compare fete (1)
  4. [singular] carnival of something (formal) an exciting or brightly coloured mixture of things
    • this summer’s carnival of sport
    5. Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Italian carnevale, carnovale, from medieval Latin carnelevamen, carnelevarium ‘Shrovetide’, from Latin caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + levare ‘put away’.
See carnival in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: carnival

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scarecrow
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Farming
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