cir·cus (sûr k s)n. 1. a. A public entertainment consisting typically of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns, and 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: "The city is a circus of the senses" (William H. Gass). [Middle English, round arena, from Latin, circus, circle; see circle.] cir cus·y adj.Word History: The modern circus owes its name, but fortunately not its regular program of events, to the amusements of ancient times. The Latin word circus, which comes from the Greek word kirkos, "circle, ring," referred to a circular or oval area enclosed by rows of seats for spectators. In the center ring, so to speak, was held a variety of events, including chariot races and gladiatorial combats, spectacles in which bloodshed and brutality were not uncommon. The first use of circus recorded in English, in a work by Chaucer written around 1380, probably refers to the Circus Maximus in Rome. Our modern circus, which dates to the end of the 18th century, was originally an equestrian spectacle as well, but the trick riders were soon joined in the ring by such performers as ropedancers, acrobats, and jugglers. Even though the circular shape of the arena and the equestrian nature of some of the performances are carried over from its Roman namesake, the modern circus has little connection with its brutal namesake of long ago. |
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. (Social Science / Human Geography) Brit
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
[from Latin, from Greek kirkos ring]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| 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 |
Translations
circus [ˈsɜːkəs] n (entertainment) → circo usu Circus: street name → piazza (di forma circolare)
circus [ˈsɜːkəs] n (entertainment) → circo usu Circus: street name → piazza (di forma circolare)
circus [ˈsɜːkəs] n (entertainment) → circo usu Circus: street name → piazza (di forma circolare)
n circus [ˈsəːkəs]
1 a travelling show with performances by horsemen, acrobats, animals etc The children went to the circus. sirkus سِرك цирк cirkus cirkus der Zirkus τσίρκο circo tsirkus سیرک sirkus cirque קִרקַס सर्कस cirkus cirkusz sirkus hringleikahús, sirkus circo サーカス 서커스 cirkas cirks sarkas circus sirkus cyrk circo circ цирк cirkus cirkus cirkus cirkus โรงละครสัตว์ sirk 馬戲團 цирк سرکش gánh xiếc 。（圆形的）马戏场
2 an open space in a town etc where several roads meet Piccadilly Circus. plein ملتقى مُلْتَقى شَوارع في مَدينه، مَيْدان кръгъл площад kruhové náměstí runddel runder Platz mit Straßenkreuzung πλατεία glorieta ringväljak تقاطع؛ محل برخورد چند راه ympyräaukio rond-point כִּכָּר @@@כִּיכָּר$$$ चौक okrugao trg körtér simpangan hringtorg piazza 円形広場 (길들이 방사상으로 모이는) 원형극장 apskrita aikštė apaļš laukums (no kura starveidīgi iziet ielas) bulatan plein rund plass plac praça круглая площадь (kruhové) námestie križišče kružni trg rundel ลานกว้าง meydan 十字路口的圓環 круглий майдан چوراہا ، چوک chỗ nhiều đường giao nhau 十字路口的圆形广场
circus → سيرك 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
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