carol

/ˈkɛrəl/

/ˈkærəl/

Other forms: carols; carolling; carolled; caroling; caroled

A carol is a religious song that's sung around Christmas time. In some towns, people who celebrate Christmas go to neighbors' houses and sing carols.

The most well-known carols are Christmas carols, but word applies to other religious songs as well. Various hymns and folk songs are sometimes called carols, and you can use the word as a verb to mean "sing a carol." In the 14th century, carol meant "to sing," but also "to dance in a ring," from the Old French carole, "ring dance accompanied by singers," probably from the Greek khoraules, "flute player who accompanies the dance."

Definitions of carol

1. noun

   a joyful song
   type of:

   song, strain

   the act of singing
2. noun

   joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ
   synonyms: Christmas carol

   type of:

   religious song

   religious music for singing
3. verb

   sing carols
   “They went caroling on Christmas Day”

   type of:

   sing

   deliver by singing