Definition

1. Noun:
   • A traveling show featuring performances: A circus is a performance given by a traveling company of entertainers such as acrobats, clowns, and animal trainers, often held in a large tent.
   • The company or group itself: The circus can also refer to the traveling company of entertainers, including their staff and animals.
   • A situation of noisy confusion or uproar: Informally, a circus describes a frenetic, disorganized, and often amusingly chaotic disturbance, reminiscent of the busy, noisy atmosphere of a real circus.
   • (Historical) An arena for public spectacles: In antiquity, a circus was an open-air stadium or arena, particularly in ancient Rome, used for chariot races, gladiatorial games, and other public entertainments.
   • A circular open space: A circus can be a circular area or a round open space at a street intersection.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The children were thrilled to see the elephants and clowns at the circus.
  • After years of training, she finally ran away to join the circus.
  • The political debate turned into a complete circus with everyone shouting.
  • The Circus Maximus in Rome could hold over 150,000 spectators.
  • Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space in London.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a circus": to be a chaotic, ridiculous, or overly theatrical situation.
  • The office meeting was an absolute circus; no one could agree on anything.
• "three-ring circus": a situation of extreme confusion with many simultaneous, distracting activities.
  • Trying to manage three young children at the airport was like running a three-ring circus.

Variants and Related Words

• Circus (capitalized): Used in the taxonomic genus name , comprising birds of prey known as harriers.
  • The hen harrier's scientific name is Circus cyaneus.
• Circusy (adj., informal): Resembling or characteristic of a circus, especially in being chaotic or colorful.
  • The decorations were a bit too circusy for the formal event.

Synonyms

• Spectacle: A visually striking performance or event.
• Extravaganza: A lavish and spectacular show or event.
• Melee: A confused, noisy, chaotic fight or disturbance.
• Arena: A level area surrounded by seats for spectators, used for sports or entertainment.

Related Phrases

• "Bread and circuses": A phrase describing a superficial means of appeasing the public, typically through entertainment and provision of basic needs, to distract from more serious issues. (From Latin ).
  • The government's policies were criticized as mere bread and circuses.

Idioms

• "It's a circus!": An exclamation used to describe a situation that is out of control, ridiculous, or overly dramatic.
  • When the fire alarm went off during the exam, the whole school was a circus!

Noun

1. a genus of haws comprising the harriers
2. an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent
   • they used the elephants to help put up the circus
3. (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games
4. a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment
   • it was so funny it was a circus
   • the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere
5. a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals
   • the children always love to go to the circus
6. a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
   • he ran away from home to join the circus