Circus Meaning
/ˈsɜːkəs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.
nounA round open space in a town or city where multiple streets meet.
Sentence Examples
The circus entertained us very much.
Everyone turned out for the circus.
The clown at the circus pleased my children.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The children were thrilled to watch the clown at the ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ arrived in town with many animals and several funny clowns.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2009, Christine Brooks, A Quiet Village, page 81:
""Right you are; I'll put him wise," undertook Nickle briskly. "After all, it's entirely your circus. Shall we stay here and—""
— 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
"The narrow circus of my dungeon wall."
— 1817, Lord Byron, The Lament of Tasso:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The children were thrilled to watch the clown at the ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ arrived in town with many animals and several funny clowns.