1. traveling entertainers: a group of traveling entertainers, including clowns, acrobats, and sometimes animal trainers and their animals
2. traveling show: a performance given by circus entertainers, or the place where they perform
3. Roman stadium: an open stadium built by the ancient Romans to stage chariot races or fights between gladiators
4. Roman show: a performance staged in a Roman stadium
5. U.K. place where streets meet: an open space, approximately circular in shape, where several streets meet Piccadilly Circus
6. self-important event: a confused, noisy, or overwhelming event or situation, especially one that seems full of self-importance
(
informal
)
a media circus
[14th century. < Latin, "ring, circle"]
cir·cus·y adjective
Word History
The Latin word circus, "ring," "circle," from which circus is derived, is also the source of English circle, circular, circulate, and search.
