carrel

noun

car·​rel ˈker-əl 

ˈka-rəl

: a table that is often partitioned or enclosed and is used for individual study especially in a library

Examples of carrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At six foot three, Debicki can’t help but draw attention, but in person she’s cloaked in the retiring aspect of a graduate student emerging from a library carrel. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024

Shug Dula There were arcade games, staff lunches, and a library with study carrels. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 6 June 2023

Wray presented the Fairfield carrel to widespread acclaim at a library conference in March 2020, just before the widespread shutdown of public spaces, including libraries, coast to coast. —Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022

Mortara brought the intriguing decision to Mitchell, who was ensconced in a library carrel. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2023

The Fairfield carrel was designed to help caregivers with young kids in tow better access their local library. —Curbed, 25 Jan. 2022

Plans call for the first-floor of the building to also include a community meeting room, study carrels, an exercise room, a technology room and offices for property-management staff. —Robin Goist, cleveland, 5 Feb. 2020

Strung along these were a multitude of carrels, with here and there a snack bar. —Richard Brookhiser, National Review, 23 Jan. 2020

On my visit in the spring, tarps covered study carrels in the library to protect them from a leaky roof. —Eliza Gray, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English caroll, from Medieval Latin carola, perhaps from carola round dance, something circular, from Late Latin choraula choral song — more at carol

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carrel

• barrel
• carol
• apparel

Biographical Definition

Carrel

biographical name

Car·​rel kə-ˈrel 

ˈker-əl,

ˈka-rəl

Alexis 1873–1944 French surgeon and biologist