circus — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.

   Examples

   The circus will be in town next week.

2. A round open space in a town or city where multiple streets meet.

   Examples

   Oxford Circus in London is at the north end of Regent Street.

3. A spectacle; a noisy fuss; a chaotic and/or crowded place.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The village would be turned into a circus over this. He groaned, it was just the sort of case the media had a field day over. He had to get the whole thing sorted fast before anyone got wind of it.

4. An undertaking or arrangement.

   Usage

   • Dated
   • Slang

   Examples

   "Right you are; I'll put him wise," undertook Nickle briskly. "After all, it's entirely your circus. Shall we stay here and—"

5. A group of puffins.

   Usage

   • collective
   • Rare

   Examples

   The circus of puffins were pictured by Alana Willox who was out on a walk at the Bullers of Buchan in Buchan, Aberdeenshire on Sunday.

   A 'CIRCUS' of puffins will take flight to their new perches over the next few days, after their official unveiling at Government House.

6. In the ancient Roman Empire, a building for chariot racing.

   Usage

   • Historical

7. A code name for bomber attacks with fighter escorts in the day time. The attacks were against short-range targets with the intention of occupying enemy fighters and keeping their fighter units in the area concerned.

8. Circuit; space; enclosure.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   The narrow circus of my dungeon wall.

Verb

1. To take part in a circus; or to be displayed as if in a circus.

Noun

1. a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

   Broader terms

   companytroupe

   Examples

   he ran away from home to join the circus

2. a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals

   Broader terms

   show

   Examples

   the children always love to go to the circus

3. a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment

   Synonyms

   carnival

   Broader terms

   disturbance

   Examples

   it was so funny it was a circus

   the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere

4. (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games

   Broader terms

   stadiumbowlarenasports stadium

5. an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent

   Broader terms

   arenascene of action

   Examples

   they used the elephants to help put up the circus