/ ˈkɑːnɪvl; NAmE ˈkɑːrn-/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] 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
2.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) = fair noun (1)
3.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) = fête
4.
[ sing. ] carnival of sth ( formal ) an exciting or brightly coloured mixture of things :
this summer's carnival of sport
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Italian carnevale , carnovale , from medieval Latin carnelevamen , carnelevarium Shrovetide, from Latin caro , carn- flesh + levare put away.