# carousel

/ˈkɛɹəˌsɛɫ/ (US) · /kˌæɹəsˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carousel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. fairground ride

noun · CEFR B1

a large, circular machine at a fair that turns around and has seats shaped like horses for people to ride on.

For teachers: a revolving circular platform equipped with seats, often in the form of animals, used as an amusement ride.

- The children laughed as they rode the wooden horses on the carousel.
- The vintage carousel, complete with its original pipe organ, remains the centerpiece of the traditional seaside amusement park.

### 2. luggage or item delivery

noun · CEFR B1

a moving belt that carries items in a circle, like the one where you collect your bags at an airport.

For teachers: a revolving conveyor system used for the delivery or display of items, particularly luggage at transport hubs.

- We waited by the carousel for twenty minutes before our suitcases appeared.
- Passengers crowded around the baggage carousel, scanning the passing suitcases for their own brightly colored tags.

### 3. digital image slider

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a part of a website that shows a series of pictures or links that you can slide through.

For teachers: a user interface component that allows a user to browse through a set of items, such as images or cards, in a horizontal cycle.

- The homepage features a carousel showing the latest news stories.
- The designer implemented a touch-responsive carousel to showcase the portfolio pieces without cluttering the mobile view.

### 4. historical tournament

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a grand show from the past where riders on horses performed patterns and games.

For teachers: a historical tournament or tilting match characterized by equestrian displays, games, and allegorical performances.

- The king organized a grand carousel to celebrate the victory.
- The 17th-century carousel was less a combat exercise and more a choreographed spectacle of noble horsemanship and courtly wealth.

### 5. to rotate

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to move in a circle or change places in a repeating way.

For teachers: to move in a circular or revolving motion; to cycle through a series of positions.

- The dancers carouseled around the room in a blur of color.
- The planets carousel through the void, held in their eternal orbits by the invisible grip of gravity.

## Examples

- The children enjoyed riding the wooden horses on the carousel.
- After landing, we waited at the luggage carousel for twenty minutes before our suitcases finally appeared.
- The fairground was dominated by a vintage carousel, its ornate mirrors and gilded animals reflecting the bright lights of the evening festivities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.