I. car ‧ ol 1 /ˈkærəl/ BrE AmE ( also Christmas carol ) noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: carol 'circular dance with singing' (13-17 centuries) , from Old French carole , probably from Late Latin choraula 'song for a group of singers' , from Greek , from choros ( ⇨ ↑ chorus 1 ) + aulein 'to play a , ↑ reed (2) instrument' ]
a traditional Christmas song
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THESAURUS
■ types of song
▪ national anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions:
Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.
▪ hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church:
What hymns did you choose for your wedding?
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At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.
▪ carol a traditional Christmas song:
We went around the houses, singing carols.
▪ folk song a traditional song from a particular area:
an old Mexican folk song
▪ ballad a long folk song which tells a story:
a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Ireland
▪ lullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep:
She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.
II. carol 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle carolled , present participle carolling British English , caroled , caroling American English ) [intransitive and transitive] literary
to sing or say something in a happy way:
‘Goodbye,’ carolled Boris happily.