circus | ||
1. | [ noun ] (performing arts) a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals | |
Examples: | "he ran away from home to join the circus" |
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Related terms: | company | |
2. | [ noun ] (horse racing,performing arts) performance given by a traveling company of acrobats clowns and trained animals | |
Examples: | "the children always love to go to the circus" |
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Related terms: | show three-ring_circus | |
3. | [ noun ] a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a circus or carnival | |
Synonyms: | carnival | |
Examples: | "it was so funny it was a circus" "the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere" |
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Related terms: | disturbance | |
4. | [ noun ] (ancient Rome) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games | |
Related terms: | stadium antiquity Rome | |
5. | [ noun ] (sport,geography) an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent | |
Examples: | "they used the elephants to help put up the circus" |
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Related terms: | arena circus_tent | |
6. | [ noun ] (biology,zoology) a genus of haws comprising the harriers | |
Synonyms: | genus_Circus | |
Related terms: | bird_genus Accipitridae marsh_harrier Montagu's_harrier marsh_hawk harrier | |
Similar spelling: |
cercus cirrhosis |