circus

Study(23)

UK /ˈsɜːkəs/ US /ˈsɝkəs/

noun 5verb 1

Collocations

ADJ.

amazed, big, delighted, joined, left, next, over, pleased

The children were amazed by the acrobats performing under the big circus tent.

VERB + CIRCUS

act, chased, enjoyed, go, like, taken, visit, watching

We took the children to the circus last summer and they absolutely loved it.

CIRCUS + NOUN

children, lion, london, parade, sea

The children watched in amazement as the circus lion roared during the afternoon performance.

PREP.

after, in, into, out

The clowns came out of the circus tent to perform tricks for the children.

Definitions

noun

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.

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.

verb

To take part in a circus; or to be displayed as if in a circus

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance sugges

carnival

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

three-ring circus

A large circus in which three separate performances, each within its own circular enclosure, are staged simultaneously before a single audience.

let's get this circus on the road

Let's start; let's begin (a journey, undertaking, etc.).

"Then he'd take a quick look at the script and say, 'Let's get this circus on the road.' The cameras would turn."

different clowns, same circus

Synonym of same shit, different toilet.

Example Bank

The circus will be in town next week.

Wiktionary

Oxford Circus in London is at the north end of Regent Street.

Wiktionary

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.

Wiktionary

The circus entertained us very much.

Tatoeba · #50350

Everyone turned out for the circus.

Tatoeba · #54214

The circus amazed and delighted the children.

Tatoeba · #54215

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, circus is marked as figuratively, historical. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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