I. ˈkär-nə-vəl noun
Etymology: Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from 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
II. adjective
Date: 1605
: suggestive of or suited to a carnival
a carnival atmosphere
carnival colors