ˈkärnəvəl, ˈkȧn- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Italian carnevale, carnovale, alteration of Old Italian carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro ) + levare to raise, take away, from Latin — more at carnal , lever
1. : the season or festival of merrymaking and revelry before Lent observed especially by Roman Catholics and originally extending from the feast of the Epiphany to Ash Wednesday but now usually confined to a few days just before Lent : shrovetide — compare mardi gras
2.
a. : any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading
in a carnival mood
b. : a time of exuberance or of riotous excesses
the carnival of spring
3.
a. : a traveling enterprise consisting of such amusements as sideshows, games of chance, Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and shooting galleries : circus
b. : an organized program of entertainment or exhibition : festival
a winter carnival
a book carnival