◙ (pl. circuses) 1. a travelling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns which gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places • 马戏团 »[as modifier] a circus elephant. 马戏团大象。 (in ancient Rome) a rounded or oval arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games • （古罗马）竞技场（圆形或椭圆形，环有一排排座位，用于马术等运动、竞赛） [informal] a group of people involved in a particular sport who travel around to compete against one another in a series of different places • [非正式] 巡回比赛团 »the Formula One grand prix circus. 一级方程式巡回大奖赛比赛团。 [informal] a public scene of frenetic and noisily intrusive activity • [非正式] 乱哄哄的干扰活动场面 »a media circus. 媒介云集的喧闹场面。 2. [in place names] [Brit.] a rounded open space in a town where several streets converge • [英] 路口的环形露天广场 »Piccadilly Circus. 皮卡迪利广场。
【语源】
1. 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