1. (

• carnival

) a festival marked by merrymaking and processions ;

2. (

• circus ,
• carnival ,

) a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment; "it was so funny it was a circus"; "the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere" ;

3. (

• carnival ,
• fair ,
• funfair

) a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc. ;