noun
circus
SUR-kuhs
noun
1
A travelling show featuring acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, traditionally performed in a large tent.
"The children begged to go see the circus when it came to town."
2
A chaotic, noisy, or ridiculous situation.
"The press conference turned into a complete circus."
3
A round open space in a town where several streets converge, especially in Britain.
"They met near Piccadilly Circus."
How to Use Circus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe travelling entertainment show, or, loosely, any chaotic and noisy spectacle.
Common pairings
run away and join the circus
a media circus
circus tent
Word Forms
circused past tense, circussed past tense, circuses plural, circusses plural, circi plural, circusses singular, circuses singular
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The children begged to go see the _____ when it came to town.
Etymology
From Latin circus ("ring, circle"), ultimately from Greek kirkos — the same root gives us "cirque".