circuses

6 definitions • 11 examples

a group of travelling performers including acrobats (= people skilled in difficult physical movements) or those who work with trained animals, or a performance by such people usually in a large tent:

She ran away to join the circus.

The horses trotted into the circus ring (= the large circle, with seats all around, in which a circus performs).

The children loved being taken to the circus.

a lot of activity and interest caused by an event or situation:

the media circus surrounding the case

an open circular area where several roads join:

Piccadilly Circus

Oxford Circus

a group of professional sports players that is travelling to play matches:

If the chief executive gets his way, the national team will become a nomadic rugby circus.

Life returns to normal when the professional cricket circus leaves town.

a group of traveling entertainers including acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, or a performance by such a group, often in a tent:

He quit school in the eighth grade to join the circus.

We saw the circus set up in a tent in the middle of the city.

A circus is also something noisy and confused:

The media circus covering the trial took over the courthouse steps.