English-Thai Dictionary

circus

N โรง ละครสัตว์  rong-la-kon-sad

 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CIRCUS

n. 1. In antiquity, a round or oval edifice, used for the exhibition of games and shows to the people. The Roman circus was encompassed with porticos, and furnished with rows of seats, rising one above another for the accommodation of spectators. The Circus Maximus was nearly a mile in circumference.
2. The open area, or space inclosed, in which were exhibited games and shows; as wrestling, fighting with swords, staves or pikes, running or racing, dancing, quoits, etc.
3. In modern times, a circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship.

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

CIRCUS

Cir "cus, n.; pl. Circuses. Etym: [L. circus circle, ring, circus (in sense 1 ). See Circle, and cf. Cirque. ]

 

1. (Roman Antiq.)

 

Defn: 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.

 

Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 1 , spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict.

 

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

 

3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.] The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

circus

cir cus |ˈsərkəs ˈsərkəs | ▶noun ( pl. circuses ) 1 a traveling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns that gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places: [ as modifier ] : a circus elephant. • (in ancient Rome ) a rounded or oblong arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games. • informal a large group of people travelling together on the circuit of a particular high-profile activity: the Formula One circus. • informal a public scene of frenetic and noisily intrusive activity: a media circus. 2 Brit. (in place names ) a rounded open space in a city where several streets converge: Piccadilly Circus. ORIGIN late Middle English (with reference to the arena of Roman antiquity ): from Latin, ‘ring or circus. ’ The sense ‘traveling company of performers ’ dates from the late 18th cent.

 

Oxford Dictionary

circus

cir ¦cus |ˈsəːkəs | ▶noun ( pl. circuses ) 1 a travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and other entertainers which gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places. • informal a large group of people travelling together on the circuit of a particular high-profile activity: the Formula One grand prix circus. • informal a public scene of frenetic, noisy, or confused activity: a media circus. 2 (in ancient Rome ) a rounded or oval arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games. 3 [ in place names ] Brit. a rounded open space in a town where several streets converge: Piccadilly Circus. ORIGIN late Middle English (with reference to the arena of Roman antiquity ): from Latin, ‘ring or circus ’. The sense ‘travelling company of performers ’ dates from the late 18th cent.

 

American Oxford Thesaurus

circus

circus noun 1 the kids enjoyed the circus: carnival, big top, cirque. 2 informal the meeting degenerated into a circus : (a ) turmoil, chaos, a zoo, bedlam, mayhem, pandemonium.

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

circus

cir cus /sə́ː r kəs /〖語源は 「輪 」〗名詞 複 ～es /-ɪz /C 1 サーカス (団 ); 〖the ～〗サーカスの上演 ; 〖形容詞的に 〗サーカスの ▸ go to the circus サーカスを見に行く ▸ circus performers サーカスの曲芸師たち ▸ a circus clown [act ]サーカスのピエロ [曲芸 ].2 ｟くだけて 非難して ｠〖単数形で 〗騒がしい状態, ばか騒ぎ ; 手に負えない状態 ▸ a media circus マスコミによるばか騒ぎ .3 ｟英 ｠〖単数形で; 複合語で 〗(何本かの通りとつながる )円形広場 (｟米 ｠circle ) (!地名で用いられる; →square ) ▸ Piccadilly Circus ピカデリー広場 〘ロンドンの中心にある 〙.4 (階段席のある )円形興行場 ; (古代ローマの野外の )円形競技場 .