ENGLISH
REFERENCE

carol

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkæɹəɫ// UK //kˈæɹəl// car·ol Archaic

n. a traditional religious song that people usually sing at Christmas. You often hear groups of people singing them together in public places during the holidays.

n. a traditional song of religious joy, specifically associated with the Christmas season. Often performed by groups in communal or liturgical settings.


SIMPLE

The children sang a Christmas carol for their parents.

CONTEXTUAL

Every December, the local choir visits the hospital to sing traditional carols for the patients and staff.

COMPLEX

While many modern carols focus on secular holiday themes, the oldest examples in the English tradition were strictly devotional hymns intended for communal worship during the Nativity.

Etymology 1

Shortened from Caroline. Associated by folk etymology with the English noun carol.

Etymology 2

Shortened from Latin Carolus; also an Anglicization of Romanian Carol, or Polish or Slovak Karol, all cognates of the English Charles.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'Christmas carol'; the verb form 'to carol' is less frequent in modern usage.

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