carol Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ
    Christmas carol.
  2. noun a joyful song (usually celebrating the birth of Christ)
  3. verb sing carols
    • They went caroling on Christmas Day

WordNet

Car"ol noun
Etymology
OF. carole a kind of dance wherein many dance together, fr. caroler to dance; perh. from Celtic; cf. Armor. koroll, n., korolla, korolli, v., Ir. car music, turn, circular motion, also L. choraula a flute player, charus a dance, chorus, choir.
Definitions
  1. A round dance. Obs. Chaucer.
  2. A song of joy, exultation, or mirth; a lay.
    The costly feast, the carol, and the dance. Dryden
    It was the carol of a bird. Byron.
  3. A song of praise of devotion; as, a Christmas or Easter carol.
    Heard a carol, mournful, holy. Tennyson.
    In the darkness sing your carol of high praise. Keble.
  4. Joyful music, as of a song.
    I heard the bells on Christmans Day Their old, familiar carol play. Longfellow.
Car"ol transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Caroled or Carolled; present participle & verbal noun Caroling, or Carolling
Definitions
  1. To praise or celebrate in song.
    The Shepherds at their festivals Carol her goodness. Milton.
  2. To sing, especially with joyful notes.
    Hovering awans . . . carol sounds harmonious. Prior.
Car"ol intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To sing; esp. to sing joyfully; to warble.
    And carol of love's high praise. Spenser.
    The gray linnets carol from the hill. Beattie.
Car"ol, Car"rol noun (Also<
  • Carol
  • Carrol
)
Etymology
OF. carole a sort of circular space, or carol.
Definitions
  1. (Arch.) A small closet or inclosure built against a window on the inner side, to sit in for study. The word was used as late as the 16th century.
    A bay window may thus be called a carol. Parker.

Webster 1913