carol
/ˈkar(ə)l
/noun
A religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly one associated with Christmas: we sang carols by candlelight...
- Groups singing carols and folk songs to the beat of local musical instruments would arrive unannounced at any time of the night.
- I always loved singing Christmas carols and hymns, and looked forward to the Nine Lessons and Carols service before Christmas.
- One of the main objectives of the choir at present is to put together a presentation of hymns and carols for Christmas services.
Synonyms
Christmas song, hymn, psalm, canticle
archaic noel
verb (carols, carolling, carolled; US carols, caroling, caroled)
1 [with object] Sing or say (something) happily: [with direct speech]: ‘Goodbye,’ he carolled...
- Leo caroled her laughter, and said: ‘The gem is the one I picked when I created my character!’
- Then there was the yearly appearance of the young lady who, clad in riding outfit and cracking a mean whip, leapt on to the stage carolling ‘The next horse I ride on I'm going to be tied on.’
- Yet, I don't spring out of bed each morning, carolling syrupy songs about how glad I am to be preparing for work.
Synonyms
sing, trill, chorus, warble, chirp, pipe, quaver, chant, intone
archaic wassail
2 (as noun carolling) The activity of singing Christmas carols: Christmas carolling...
- Not only were nine out ten adults convinced that Christmas carolling was disappearing as a tradition, but nine out of ten were also worried about it.
- They all insisted that they want both carolling and Christmas party this year.
- The FACES Club, with its mandate of breaking racial barriers and promoting cross-cultural friendships, decided to participate in the carolling to raise awareness about what they stand for.
Derivatives
caroller
/ noun ...- And finally, there's this local song that's not really a Christmas song, but which carollers always sing at each house.
- A quarter of an hour later a new group of carollers poured in and surrounded us.
- Smiles and offers of hot chocolate greet carolers as they stroll through the snowy streets singing the melodies of Christmas.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French carole (noun), caroler (verb), of unknown origin.