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caravan

/ˈkɛrəˌvæn/
/ˈkærəvæn/
IPA guide

Other forms: caravans; caravaning; caravanning; caravanned; caravaned

A caravan is either a covered vehicle, like a wagon or a van, or a procession of vehicles. If you watch a parade with a long line of floats traveling one after another down the street, that's a caravan of floats.

The word caravan comes from the Persian karwan meaning "group of desert travelers." A caravan can be a large group of people traveling together in one long line. It's also the term used for a camper that has a living area in it. In history, pilgrims often traveled like this, lugging all of their belongings with them in caravans, or covered horse-drawn carriages. It's also a verb: caravan with your neighbors on a group road trip.

Definitions of caravan
  1. noun
    a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file
    “we were part of a caravan of almost a thousand camels”
    synonyms: train, wagon train
    see moresee less
    type of:
    procession
    the group action of a collection of people or animals or vehicles moving ahead in more or less regular formation
  2. noun
    a camper equipped with living quarters
    synonyms: van
    see moresee less
    type of:
    camper, camping bus, motor home
    a recreational vehicle equipped for camping out while traveling
  3. verb
    travel in a caravan
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go, locomote, move, travel
    change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
Pronunciation
US
/ˈkɛrəˌvæn/
UK
/ˈkærəvæn/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘caravan'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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