1. A performance given by a travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals
   "the children always love to go to the circus"
    
2. A travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
   "he ran away from home to join the circus"
    
3. 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"
    
4. (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games
   "Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman circus where thousands once cheered for their favourite charioteers"
    
5. A frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment
   "it was so funny it was a circus";
   - carnival

1. A genus of haws comprising the harriers
   - genus Circus

Derived forms: circuses

Type of: arena, bird genus, bowl [N. Amer], company, disturbance, scene of action, show, sports stadium, stadium, troupe

Part of: Accipitridae, family Accipitridae

Encyclopedia: Circus, Circus