carol

[kar-uh l] /ˈkær əl/
noun
1.
a song, especially of joy.
2.
a Christmas song or hymn.
3.
a seat in a bay window or oriel.
4.
a compartment in a cloister, similar to a carrel.
5.
a kind of circular dance.
verb (used without object), caroled, caroling or (especially British) carolled, carolling.
6.
to sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house.
7.
to sing, especially in a lively, joyous manner; warble.
verb (used with object), caroled, caroling or (especially British) carolled, carolling.
8.
to sing joyously.
9.
to praise or celebrate in song.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English carole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study (see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) < Anglo-French carole, Old French *corole (compare Old Provençal corola), apparently < Latin corolla garland (see corolla), conflated with Latin choraula < Greek choraúlēs piper for choral dance, equivalent to chor(ós) chorus + -aulēs, derivative of aulós pipe
Related forms
caroler; especially British, caroller, noun
outcarol, verb (used with object), outcaroled, outcaroling or (especially British) outcarolled, outcarolling.
uncaroled, adjective
uncarolled, adjective

Carol

[kar-uh l] /ˈkær əl/
noun
1.
a male or female given name.

Carol.

1.
Carolingian.

Carol II

[kar-uh l; Romanian kah-rawl] /ˈkær əl; Romanian ˈkɑ rɔl/
noun
1.
1893–1953, king of Romania 1930–40.
Examples from the web for carol
  • He immediately grabs a pad of paper and sketches carol, unknown to her.
British Dictionary definitions for carol

carol

/ˈkærəl/
noun
1.
a joyful hymn or religious song, esp one (a Christmas carol) celebrating the birth of Christ
2.
(archaic) an old English circular dance
verb -ols, -olling, -olled (US) -ols, -oling, -oled
3.
(intransitive) to sing carols at Christmas
4.
to sing (something) in a joyful manner
Derived Forms
caroler, caroller, noun
caroling, carolling, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, of uncertain origin

Carol II

/ˈkærəl/
noun
1.
1893–1953, king of Romania (1930–40), who was deposed by the Iron Guard
Word Origin and History for carol
n.

c.1300, "joyful song," also "dance in a ring," from Old French carole "kind of dance in a ring, round dance accompanied by singers," perhaps from Medieval Latin choraula "a dance to the flute," from Latin choraules "flute-player," from Greek khoraules "flute player who accompanies the choral dance," from khoros "chorus" (see chorus) + aulein "to play the flute," from aulos "reed instrument" (see alveolus). The meaning "Christmas hymn of joy" is attested from c.1500.

v.

c.1300, "to dance in a ring," from Old French caroler, from carole (see carol (n.)). As "to sing" from late 14c. Related: Caroled; caroling.

Carol

masc. proper name, from Medieval Latin Carolus (see Charles). As a fem. proper name, an abbreviation of Caroline. The masc. name never has been popular in U.S.; the fem. form was common after c.1900 and was a top-10 name for U.S. girls born 1936-1950.