Definition of: carnival

(kär′nə·və1) noun
1. A period of festival and gaiety immediately preceding Lent, observed in Roman Catholic countries and in some cities in the United States, especially by the Latin peoples. It commonly lasts from three days to a week, Shrove Tuesday being the conclusion, and is marked by street revelry, masking, pageants, and the like.
2. Any gay festival, wild revel, or masquerade.
3. Riotous sport and confusion.
4. A traveling amusement show, with merry–go–round, ferris wheel, side shows, etc. [<Ital. carnivale <Med. L carnelevarium <L caro, carnis flesh + levare remove]