circus

plural circuses · plural rare circusses · plural rare circi

1. A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.First known use late 18th c.

   The circus will be in town next week.

2. 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.

3. figurativelyA 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.

   2009, Christine Brooks, A Quiet Village, page 81

4. datedslangAn undertaking or arrangement.

   "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 [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

5. collectiverareA group of puffins.

   The circus of puffins were pictured by Alana Willox who was out on a walk at the Bullers of Buchan in Buchan, Aberdeenshire on Sunday.

   2022 April 20, Darren McConachie, “Scots amateur photographer captures stunning images of puffins”, in Deadline

   1 more example

   A 'CIRCUS' of puffins will take flight to their new perches over the next few days, after their official unveiling at Government House.

   2023 March 30, “Parade puffins officially unveiled at Government House”, in Guernsey Press

6. historicalIn the ancient Roman Empire, a building for chariot racing.
7. World War IIgovernmentA 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.
8. obsoleteCircuit; space; enclosure.

   The narrow circus of my dungeon wall.

   1817, Lord Byron, The Lament of Tasso

present singular third person circuses · present singular third person circusses · participle present circusing · participle present circussing · participle past circused · past circused · participle past circussed · past circussed

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