circus
noun
- commonly a travelling company of performers
- large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːkəs/ / /ˈsɝkəs/ / /sɪɾkəs/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).
- 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.”
- 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.”
- A spectacle; a noisy fuss; a chaotic and/or crowded place.
“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.”
- An undertaking or arrangement.
“"Right you are; I'll put him wise," undertook Nickle briskly. "After all, it's entirely your circus. Shall we stay here and—"”
- In the ancient Roman Empire, a building for chariot racing.
- 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.
- Circuit; space; enclosure.
“The narrow circus of my dungeon wall.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).
- To take part in a circus; or to be displayed as if in a circus.