circus
1. [ noun ] (performing arts) a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
Examples:

"he ran away from home to join the circus"

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"

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"

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"

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