merry-go-round

Meaning

1. A carousel; a pleasure ride, typically found at fairs and amusement parks, consisting of a slowly revolving circular platform on which various seats are fixed, frequently shaped like horses or other animals.
2. (US) A piece of playground equipment consisting of a circular platform that is made to revolve by pushing while users stand on it.
3. (figuratively) A meaningless cycle; a bustle of activity that gets nowhere.
4. A freight train of hopper wagons which loads and unloads its cargo while moving, a balloon loop being provided at power stations.
5. (figuratively) A series of singles and doubles that allow the batting team to score while still having runners on base who can be driven in by the next batter.
6. (Kenya) A cooperative scheme in which members regularly contribute money to a pool, and the collected money is then paid out to one of the members, repeating so that every member has eventually received the collected money.

Synonyms

carousel

roundabout

carrousel

whirligig

roundabout

turnabout

whirl

revolving platform

Translations

giostra

Karussell

draaimolen

carrousel

carrousel

tiovivo

carrusel

zweefmolen

manège

carrossel

carosello

caballitos

calesita

cavallets

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɛ.ɹi.ɡoʊ.ɹaʊnd/

Etymology

First attested in 1729, compound of merry and go round.