WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
car•ol /ˈkærəl/USA pronunciation
n., v., -oled, -ol•ing or (esp. Brit.) -olled, -ol•ling.
n. [countable]
v. [no object;
often: go + (out) + ~-ing]
esp. Brit., car•ol•ler, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- Music and Dancea song, esp. of joy.
- Music and Dancea Christmas song or hymn.
v. [no object;
often: go + (out) + ~-ing]
- Music and Danceto sing Christmas songs, esp. in a group outdoors:They went out caroling on Christmas Eve.
esp. Brit., car•ol•ler, n. [countable]
car•ol
(kar′əl),USA pronunciation n., v., -oled, -ol•ing or (esp. Brit.) -olled, -ol•ling.
n.
v.i.
v.t.
car′ol•er;
[esp. Brit.,] car′ol•ler, n.
Car•ol (kar′əl),USA pronunciation n.
Carol.,
n.
- Music and Dancea song, esp. of joy.
- Music and Dancea Christmas song or hymn.
- Music and Dancea seat in a bay window or oriel.
- Music and Dancea compartment in a cloister, similar to a carrel.
- Music and Dancea kind of circular dance.
v.i.
- Music and Danceto sing Christmas songs or hymns, esp. in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house.
- Music and Danceto sing, esp. in a lively, joyous manner;
warble.
v.t.
- Music and Danceto sing joyously.
- Music and Danceto praise or celebrate in song.
- Greek choraúlēs piper for choral dance, equivalent. to chor(ós) chorus + -aulēs, derivative of aulós pipe
- Latin corolla garland (see corolla), conflated with Latin choraula
- Anglo-French carole, Old French *corole (compare Old Provencal corola), apparently
- Middle English carole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study (see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) 1250–1300
[esp. Brit.,] car′ol•ler, n.
Car•ol (kar′əl),USA pronunciation n.
- a male or female given name.
Carol.,
- Ancient HistoryCarolingian.