caravan

/ˌkɛrəˈvæn/

/ˈkærəvæn/

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

   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

   type of:

   camper, camping bus, motor home

   a recreational vehicle equipped for camping out while traveling
3. verb

   travel in a caravan
   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically