n.
Pronunciation: ' kär-n ə -v ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (fr. Latin carn-, caro ) + levare to remove, from Latin, to raise
Date: 1549
1 : a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
2 a : an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading b : an instance of riotous excess <a carnival of violence>
3 a : a traveling enterprise offering amusements b : an organized program of entertainment or exhibition : FESTIVAL <a winter carnival >