carnival

From French carnaval, from Italian carnevale, either from the Latin phrase carnem levāre ("to put away meat") or conversely from the Latin word carnealis ("meaty").

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkæɹnɪvəl/, /kɑɹnəˈvɑl/ (referring to specific festivals in various countries)

carnival (plural carnivals)

1. Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.

   Carnival of Brazil

   Venice Carnival

2. A festive occasion marked by parades and sometimes special foods and other entertainment.
   • 2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:

     Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.

3. (US) A traveling amusement park, called a funfair in British English.

   We all got to ride the merry-go-round when they brought their carnival to town.

   When the carnival came to town, every one wanted some cotton candy.

• mardi gras
• Mardi Gras on Wikipedia.Wikipedia