definition of
circus

[1] #1 circus n. a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals; "he ran away from home to join the circus". wn

[2] #2 circus n. a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals; "the children always love to go to the circus". wn

[3] #3 circus n. [carnival] a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment; "it was so funny it was a circus"; "the whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere". wn

[4] #4 circus n. (antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games. wn

[5] #5 circus n. 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". wn