Main Entry: ¹car·ni·val

Pronunciation: \ˈkär-nə-vəl\

Function: 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>