Search Result for "circus": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (6)

1. a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals;
- Example: "he ran away from home to join the circus"

2. a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals;
- Example: "the children always love to go to the circus"

3. a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment;
- Example: "it was so funny it was a circus"
- Example: "the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere"
[syn: circus, carnival]

4. (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games;

5. an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent;
- Example: "they used the elephants to help put up the circus"

6. a genus of haws comprising the harriers;
[syn: Circus, genus Circus]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Circus \Cir"cus\, n.; pl. Circuses. [L. circus circle, ring,
   circus (in sense 1). See Circle, and cf. Cirque.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Roman Antiq.) A level oblong space surrounded on three
      sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers
      one above another, and divided lengthwise through the
      middle by a barrier around which the track or course was
      laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public
      shows.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than
         100,000 spectators. --Harpers' Latin Dict.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of
      horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company
      of performers, with their equipage.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

            The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. --Byron.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

circus
    n 1: a travelling company of entertainers; including trained
         animals; "he ran away from home to join the circus"
    2: a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats,
       clowns, and trained animals; "the children always love to go
       to the circus"
    3: 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" [syn: circus, carnival]
    4: (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and
       gladiatorial games
    5: 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"
    6: a genus of haws comprising the harriers [syn: Circus,
       genus Circus]


The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

CIRCUS, n.  A place where horses, ponies and elephants are permitted
to see men, women and children acting the fool.