Library / English Dictionary

    CIRCUS

    Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

     I. (noun) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    A performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animalsplay

    Example:

    the children always love to go to the circus

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("circus" is a kind of...):

    show (the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "circus"):

    three-ring circus (a circus with simultaneous performances in three rings)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    A frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainmentplay

    Example:

    the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere

    Synonyms:

    carnival; circus

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("circus" is a kind of...):

    disturbance (the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    A genus of haws comprising the harriersplay

    Synonyms:

    Circus; genus Circus

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting animals

    Hypernyms ("Circus" is a kind of...):

    bird genus (a genus of birds)

    Meronyms (members of "Circus"):

    harrier (hawks that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on small terrestrial animals)

    Circus Aeruginosus; marsh harrier (Old World harrier frequenting marshy regions)

    Circus pygargus; Montagu's harrier (brownish European harrier)

    Circus cyaneus; hen harrier; marsh hawk; northern harrier (common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land)

    Holonyms ("Circus" is a member of...):

    Accipitridae; family Accipitridae (hawks; Old World vultures; kites; harriers; eagles)

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    An arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tentplay

    Example:

    they used the elephants to help put up the circus

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("circus" is a kind of...):

    arena; scene of action (a playing field where sports events take place)

    Meronyms (parts of "circus"):

    big top; circus tent; round top; top (a canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial gamesplay

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("circus" is a kind of...):

    arena; bowl; sports stadium; stadium (a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments)

    Domain category:

    antiquity (the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe)

    Domain region:

    capital of Italy; Eternal City; Italian capital; Roma; Rome (capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    A travelling company of entertainers; including trained animalsplay

    Example:

    he ran away from home to join the circus

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

    Hypernyms ("circus" is a kind of...):

    company; troupe (organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical))

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    "Come on, Daisy," said Tom, pressing her with his hand toward Gatsby's car. "I'll take you in this circus wagon."

    (The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)


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