circus
/ˈsɜːkəs/noun
(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。
1.1
- (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）。
1.2
- 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。
1.3
- 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。
词源
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.