circus
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cir·cus
(sûr′kəs)n.
1.
a. A public entertainment consisting typically of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns, and often trained animals.
b. A traveling company that performs such entertainments.
c. A circular arena, surrounded by tiers of seats and often covered by a tent, in which such shows are performed.
2. A roofless oval enclosure surrounded by tiers of seats that was used in antiquity for public spectacles.
3. Chiefly British An open circular place where several streets intersect.
4. Informal Something suggestive of a circus, as in frenetic activity or noisy disorder: "I was amazed at the amount of hubbub in the lobby ... it was a circus. The check-in area brought to mind a mustering station on a foundering cruise ship" (Bill Bryson).
[Middle English, round arena, from Latin, circus, circle; see circle.]
cir′cus·y adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
circus
(ˈsɜːkəs)n, pl -cuses
1. a travelling company of entertainers such as acrobats, clowns, trapeze artistes, and trained animals
2. a public performance given by such a company
3. an oval or circular arena, usually tented and surrounded by tiers of seats, in which such a performance is held
4. (General Sporting Terms) a travelling group of professional sportsmen: a cricket circus.
5. (Historical Terms) (in ancient Rome)
a. an open-air stadium, usually oval or oblong, for chariot races or public games
b. the games themselves
6. (Human Geography)
a. an open place, usually circular, in a town, where several streets converge
b. (capital when part of a name): Piccadilly Circus.
7. informal noisy or rowdy behaviour
8. informal a person or group of people whose behaviour is wild, disorganized, or (esp unintentionally) comic
[C16: from Latin, from Greek kirkos ring]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cir•cus
(ˈsɜr kəs)n., pl. -cus•es.
1.
a. a large public show or entertainment featuring performing animals, clowns, feats of skill and daring, pageantry, etc.
b. the physical equipment, personnel, etc., of such a show.
c. the place where such a show is held, usu. a circular arena surrounded by tiers of seats, often in a tent.
2. (in ancient Rome)
a. a large, usu. U-shaped or oval roofless enclosure with tiers of seats on three or all sides, for chariot races, public games, etc.
b. a game or spectacle presented in such an arena.
3. Brit. an open circle or plaza where several streets converge.
4. a display of rowdy sport or wild activity.
[1350–1400; < Latin: circular region of the sky, oval space for games, akin to (or <) Greek kírkos ring]
cir′cus•y, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
circus
- Latin for "ring," its first use was for the arena of Roman antiquity, an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent.See also related terms for seats.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
circus
1. A hippodrome for horse and chariot racing.
2. A circular arrangement of terraced houses, as in Bath, England.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  circus - a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals; "he ran away from home to join the circus" |
| 2. | circus - a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals; "the children always love to go to the circus" three-ring circus - a circus with simultaneous performances in three rings show - the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining; "a remarkable show of skill" | |
| 3. | circus - a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment; "it was so funny it was a circus"; "the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere" disturbance - the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion | |
| 4. | circus - (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games capital of Italy, Eternal City, Italian capital, Rome, Roma - capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire antiquity - the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe | |
| 5. | circus - an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent; "they used the elephants to help put up the circus" scene of action, arena - a playing field where sports events take place big top, circus tent, round top, top - a canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance; "he was afraid of a fire in the circus tent"; "they had the big top up in less than an hour" | |
| 6. | Circus - a genus of haws comprising the harriers bird genus - a genus of birds Accipitridae, family Accipitridae - hawks; Old World vultures; kites; harriers; eagles harrier - hawks that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on small terrestrial animals Circus Aeruginosus, marsh harrier - Old World harrier frequenting marshy regions Circus pygargus, Montagu's harrier - brownish European harrier Circus cyaneus, hen harrier, marsh hawk, northern harrier - common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
سِركسِرْكملتقى مُلْتَقى شَوارع في مَدينه، مَيْدان
cirkuskruhové náměstí
cirkusrunddelcircus
sirkus
cirkus
cirkuszkörtér
hringleikahús, sirkushringtorg
サーカス
서커스
apskrita aikštėcirkas
apaļš laukumscirks
cerc
cirkus
cirkus
cirkus
โรงละครสัตว์
rạp xiếc
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
circus
(ˈsəːkəs) – plural ˈcircuses – noun1. a travelling show with performances by horsemen, acrobats, animals etc. The children went to the circus.
2. an open space in a town etc where several roads meet. Piccadilly Circus.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
circus
→ سِرْك cirkus cirkus Zirkus τσίρκο circo sirkus cirque cirkus circo サーカス 서커스 circus sirkus cyrk circo цирк cirkus โรงละครสัตว์ sirk rạp xiếc 马戏场Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009