: a table that is often partitioned or enclosed and is used for individual study especially in a library
Examples of carrel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At six foot three, Debicki can’t help but draw attention, but in person she’s cloaked in the retiring aspect of a graduate student emerging from a library carrel.
—
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Shug Dula There were arcade games, staff lunches, and a library with study carrels.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 6 June 2023
Wray presented the Fairfield carrel to widespread acclaim at a library conference in March 2020, just before the widespread shutdown of public spaces, including libraries, coast to coast.
—Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022
Mortara brought the intriguing decision to Mitchell, who was ensconced in a library carrel.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2023
The Fairfield carrel was designed to help caregivers with young kids in tow better access their local library.
—Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022
Plans call for the first-floor of the building to also include a community meeting room, study carrels, an exercise room, a technology room and offices for property-management staff.
—Robin Goist, cleveland, 5 Feb. 2020
Strung along these were a multitude of carrels, with here and there a snack bar.
—Richard Brookhiser, National Review, 23 Jan. 2020
On my visit in the spring, tarps covered study carrels in the library to protect them from a leaky roof.
—Eliza Gray, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2019
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Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Shug Dula There were arcade games, staff lunches, and a library with study carrels.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 6 June 2023
Wray presented the Fairfield carrel to widespread acclaim at a library conference in March 2020, just before the widespread shutdown of public spaces, including libraries, coast to coast.
—Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022
Mortara brought the intriguing decision to Mitchell, who was ensconced in a library carrel.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2023
The Fairfield carrel was designed to help caregivers with young kids in tow better access their local library.
—Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022
Plans call for the first-floor of the building to also include a community meeting room, study carrels, an exercise room, a technology room and offices for property-management staff.
—Robin Goist, cleveland, 5 Feb. 2020
Strung along these were a multitude of carrels, with here and there a snack bar.
—Richard Brookhiser, National Review, 23 Jan. 2020
On my visit in the spring, tarps covered study carrels in the library to protect them from a leaky roof.
—Eliza Gray, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Carrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrel. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Carrel
biographical name
Car·rel
kə-ˈrel 
ˈker-əl,
ˈka-rəl
Alexis 1873–1944 French surgeon and biologist
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