#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ RANDOM

Definitions for circusˈsɜr kəs

ADVERTISEMENT

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

cir•cusˈsɜr kəs(n.)(pl.)-cus•es.

  1. a large public show or entertainment featuring performing animals, clowns, feats of skill and daring, pageantry, etc. the physical equipment, personnel, etc., of such a show. 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 large, usu.U-shaped or oval roofless enclosure with tiers of seats on three or all sides, for chariot races, public games, etc. a game or spectacle presented in such an arena.

    Category: Ancient History, Antiquities

  3. Brit. an open circle or plaza where several streets converge.

    Category: British

  4. a display of rowdy sport or wild activity.

Origin of circus:

1350–1400; < L: circular region of the sky, oval space for games, akin to (or <) Gk kírkos ring

cir′cus•y(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. circus(noun)

    a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

    "he ran away from home to join the circus"

  2. circus(noun)

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

    "the children always love to go to the circus"

  3. circus, carnival(noun)

    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"

  4. circus(noun)

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

  5. circus(noun)

    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"

  6. Circus, genus Circus(noun)

    a genus of haws comprising the harriers

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. circus(noun)ˈsɜr kəs

    a traveling show in a large tent

    circus animals; a circus act

Wiktionary

  1. circus(Noun)

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

    The circus will be in town next week.

  2. circus(Noun)

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

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

  3. circus(Noun)

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

  4. circus(Noun)

    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.

  5. circus(Noun)

    Circuit; space; enclosure.

    The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. uE000165148uE001 Byron.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Circus(noun)

    a level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows

  2. Circus(noun)

    a circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage

  3. Circus(noun)

    circuit; space; inclosure

Translations for circus

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

circus(noun)

a travelling show with performances by horsemen, acrobats, animals etc

The children went to the circus.

Get even more translations for circus »

Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"circus." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 19 Jun 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/circus>.

The Web's Largest Resource for

Definitions & Translations

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

Nearby & related entries:

Alternative searches for circus: