ENGLISH
REFERENCE

carousel

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkɛɹəˌsɛɫ// UK //kˌæɹəsˈɛl// carousel Archaic

n. a large machine at a fair that people ride for fun, which turns in a circle and has seats shaped like horses. It can also mean a moving belt at an airport where you pick up your bags.

n. a revolving circular platform with seats, often in the form of horses, used as an amusement park ride; also refers to a rotating conveyor system for luggage or slide projection.


SIMPLE

The children enjoyed riding the wooden horses on the carousel.

CONTEXTUAL

After landing, we waited at the luggage carousel for twenty minutes before our suitcases finally appeared.

COMPLEX

The fairground was dominated by a vintage carousel, its ornate mirrors and gilded animals reflecting the bright lights of the evening festivities.

Synonyms
Origin

From French carrousel, from Italian carosello, from Sicilian caruseḍḍu and/or Neapolitan carusiello. Uncertain. Some suggested a derivation from carro (“cart”), from Latin carrus, but this does not fit the criteria of an appropriate morphological reconstruction. Not believed to be related to carousal.

Usage

Commonly used in the compound noun 'luggage carousel' in travel contexts.

© 2026 English Reference