carousel
kair-uh-SEL
/ˌkærəˈsɛl/
A revolving circular platform with seats for riders, typically in the form of wooden horses or other animals.
Typically implies an ornate, vintage, or artistic ride with music, distinct from modern, high-speed spinning rides.
The story behind the word. From the Italian word carosello, which was originally a 12th-century training game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen on horseback. French crusaders brought the gentle pageantry ride back to Europe.
Word relationships
- merry-go-round: Merry-go-round is often used for smaller, playground-style spinning platforms, while carousel usually implies a large, ornate park ride.
- linear ride: Linear ride moves in a straight line from start to finish rather than spinning in a circle.
Commonly confused with
- ferris wheel: A Ferris wheel rotates vertically, whereas a carousel rotates horizontally.
Word family
- carousels (noun): plural of carousel
Collocations
- vintage carousel
- ride a carousel
- carousel music
- baggage carousel
Idioms & expressions
- carousel of life
Example sentences
- "Children loved riding the hand-carved wooden horses on the brightly lit carousel." Describing a classic park ride
- "We waited at the baggage carousel for our luggage to arrive after the flight." Airport terminology
Memory hook
Imagine a car selling round-and-round rides to horses. Spinning horses on a circular stage.
When not to use
Do not use for vertical spinning rides like Ferris wheels or high-speed spinning flat rides.
Fun facts
- The oldest operating platform carousel in the United States is the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, built in 1876.
Related words
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