circus Hear it!

circus Definition

cir·cus (sʉr′kəs)

noun

  1. in ancient Rome, an oval or oblong arena with tiers of seats around it, used as for games or chariot races
  2. a similar arena, often enclosed in a tent or building for performances by acrobats, trained animals, clowns, etc.
  3. a traveling show of this sort or its personnel, equipment, etc.
  4. the performance of such a show
  5. Brit. a circular open place where many streets come together: used esp. in place names
  6. ☆ Informal anything thought of as being like a circus, as an event, place, or activity that is riotously entertaining, spectacular, frenzied, disorganized, etc. a media circus

Etymology: L, a circle, ring, racecourse < or akin to Gr kirkos, a circle < IE *kirk- < base *(s)ker-, to turn, bend > Gr korōnos & L curvus, curved

circus Synonyms

circus

n.

hippodrome, spectacle, entertainment, big top*, carnival*, bazaar*, show*, fair*, festival*, kermis*, ring*, sideshow.

circus Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • boycott: RSPCA says: " Boycott the circus " RSPCA Circus FAQ's here.
  • join: And from there, I joined a Danish circus.
  • travel: There are now just 8 traveling animal circuses, the lowest number ever.

Adjective modifier

  • f1: Along with Prost's Nick Heidfeld and Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, a fifth German will be joining the F1 circus this year.
  • contemporary: Events will include dance, classical, jazz, rock and pop music, installations, lectures, screenings, theater and contemporary circus.
  • animal: Your support for our work is changing the way people in Chile think about animal circuses.
  • traditional: Human based, human sized, easily shared, quite easily learned and all seen in traditional circus.
  • famous: Wolverhampton had been visited by many famous Victorian circuses and menageries but had never seen anything on this scale.

Modifies a noun

  • clown: Me: Are you sure you're not gonna start juggling them like a circus clown or something?
  • performer: In 1914, a " geek " was a circus performer who would bite the heads off chickens or snakes!
  • troupe: Why do Will and Beanpole tell the circus troupe about the approach of the Masters ' spaceship?
  • strongman: Ibrahim worked as a porter, singer, drummer, circus strongman and shoe shine.
  • acrobat: It reminds me of when you see circus acrobats building a human pyramid all balanced on the central person.
  • tent: To make your party extra special, why not hire a mini circus tent or include real pony rides?

Noun used with modifier

  • three-ring: In short, the whole situation was a real " three-ring circus.
  • flea: He's a flea handler in his parents flea circus, among other roles.
  • media: Dornoch Castle Hotel has installed a webcam on one of their turrets so that everyone can watch the events and the surrounding media circus.
  • medium: DOGGETT stares in surprise at the media circus inside the room.
  • celebrity: The actors who play such parts carry their screen personas straight off the celluloid into the celebrity circus.
  • ring: Marriage is a 3 ring circus: Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring, Suffering.
circus Quotes

Church ain't shucks to a circus.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

I remember, when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum's circus, which contained an exhibition of freaks and monstrosities, but the exhibit on the programme which I most desired to see was the one described as'The Boneless Wonder'. My parents judged that the spectacle would be too revolting and demoralizing for my youthful eyes, and I have waited 50 years to see the boneless wonder sitting on theTreasury Bench.

—Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

A chess tournament disguised as a circus.

—Connally,John Bowden

The ringmaster has altered, but the circus remains the same.

—Ashdown, Baron

   Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy gets the Catholic Church. America gets Hollywood.

—Jong, Erica ne¤  e Mann

All I say is, if you cannot ride two horses you have no right in the circus.

—Maxton,James