circus

noun (plural circuses)

• 1a 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

• 2British (in place names) a rounded open space in a city where several streets converge:Piccadilly Circus