1. A merry-go-round, as one at an amusement park.
2. A circular conveyor on which objects are displayed or rotated: a baggage carousel in an airport.
3. A tournament in which knights or horsemen engaged in various exercises and races.

[French carrousel, tilting match, carousel, from Italian carosello, tilting match.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.