noun
Common
carol
KA-ruhl
Carol (noun) means a traditional song of joy, especially one sung at Christmas. Example: “We gathered around the piano to sing a carol before opening presents.”
noun
1
A traditional song of joy, especially one sung at Christmas.
"We gathered around the piano to sing a carol before opening presents."
"The choir sang carols outside the church on Christmas Eve."
"Their favorite carol is "Silent Night.""
verb
1
To sing carols, especially going door to door at Christmas.
"The choir members will carol outside the care home on Christmas Eve."
"We carolled at every door on our street, and the neighbours gave us mince pies."
"Every December they carol through the neighborhood with candles and songbooks."
How to use carol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA joyful song, especially a traditional Christmas song, or the act of singing one.
Common pairings
Christmas carol
sing carols
carol singers
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Word forms
- Plural
- carols
- Third person singular
- carols
- Past tense
- caroled, carolled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We gathered around the piano to sing a _____ before opening presents.
Etymology
From Old French carole, "a round dance with singing," itself of uncertain deeper origin — possibly linked to Greek words for chorus and flute-playing.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “carol” mean?
The word “carol” means a traditional song of joy, especially one sung at Christmas. In plain terms, a joyful song, especially a traditional Christmas song, or the act of singing one.
How do you pronounce “carol”?
“Carol” is pronounced KA-ruhl (/ˈkɛɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “carol” in a sentence?
Here is “carol” used in a sentence: “The choir sang carols outside the church on Christmas Eve.”
What part of speech is “carol”?
Depending on how it is used, “carol” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “carol” come from?
The word “carol” comes from Old French. From Old French carole, "a round dance with singing," itself of uncertain deeper origin — possibly linked to Greek words for chorus and flute-playing.
Is “carol” a common word?
“Carol” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “carol” have?
“Carol” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional song of joy, especially one sung at Christmas.
What is the difference between a carol and a hymn?
A hymn is a religious song of praise written for worship and sung mainly in church services. A carol is a traditional song of joy, especially one sung at Christmas, and it is usually festive and popular in style rather than strictly liturgical. Many Christmas favourites blur the line, which is why the two terms are so often confused.
Are carols only sung at Christmas?
No. A carol is any traditional song of joy; Christmas is simply the season most strongly associated with them. Easter carols also exist, though they are far less common today.
Is it caroling or carolling?
Both are correct: caroling is the American spelling and carolling is the British spelling, following the usual rule for doubling a final l (as in traveling/travelling). The same split applies to caroler and caroller.
