cir|cus

cir|cus «SUR kuhs», noun.

1. a) a traveling show of acrobats, clowns, horses, riders, and wild animals: »

Circuses usually go on tour during the summer months.

b) the performers who give the show or the performances they give: »

The whole town turned out to see the circus.

c) the circular area, often covered by a large tent and with tiers of seats for spectators, in which such a performance is given.

2. Informal, Figurative. a) an amusing person or thing. b) a lively time; noisy disturbance; uproar: »

We're going to have a regular circus.

3. a round, oval, or oblong space with seats around it in rows, each row higher than the one in front of it. Contests among gladiators, chariot races, and other public spectacles took place in circuses in ancient Rome. »

Such were the bloody circus' genial laws (Byron).

SYNONYM(S): amphitheater.

4. British. a) a circular area at a big traffic junction; traffic circle: »

Piccadilly Circus.

b) a circular arrangement of buildings: »

Regent Circus.

5. Especially British. a natural amphitheater; rounded hollow: »

The party found themselves in a circus of hills (Benjamin Disraeli).

6. = flying circus. (Cf. ↑flying circus)

7. Obsolete. a ring; circle.

╂[< Latin circus ring. See etym. of doublet cirque. (Cf. ↑cirque)]