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clown

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The definition of a clown is a jester, or a person who dresses in funny clothes and entertains at a party or in a circus with jokes and tricks, or a person who pretends to be foolish.

(noun)

An example of a clown is a person who dresses in brightly-colored, floppy clothes and oversized shoes to entertain children by doing silly tricks.
An example of a clown is a person who never takes anything seriously.

Clown means to perform tricks and jokes in a circus or at a party, or to act foolishly.

(verb)

An example of clown is to throw pies at other people while wearing a funny costume and makeup.

See clown in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Obsolete a peasant or farmer; rustic
a clumsy, boorish, or incompetent person
a performer who entertains, as in a circus, by antics, jokes, tricks, etc.; jester
a person who constantly plays the fool, makes jokes, etc.; buffoon

Origin: < ? Scand, as in Ice klunni, clumsy person

intransitive verb

to perform as a clown
to play practical jokes, act silly, etc.

Related Forms:

clownery noun
clownish adjective
clownishly adverb
clownishness noun

See clown in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A buffoon or jester who entertains by jokes, antics, and tricks in a circus, play, or other presentation.
b. One who jokes and plays tricks.
A coarse, rude, vulgar person; a boor.
A peasant; a rustic.

intransitive verb clowned, clown·ing, clowns