Circus
6
9.7
- noun
- /ˈsɜrkəs/
- Specialized
:
género Circus
- Bird experts classify the Circus genus as impressive hunters that often hunt in open fields.
Examples
-
Several recently joined forces in an attempt to develop a national circus school, a kind of advanced studies center for performers.
Academic text (1999) -
Circus and others are involved in laboratory research on animals.
Academic text (2017) -
We are circus animals.
-
It looks like a two-ring circus.
-
Circus performer.
-
The Circus includes the northern harrier, known for its distinctive flight pattern.
-
During the summer, many birdwatchers seek to observe the Circus species in wetlands.
Idioms
- Informal
A situation where different people bring the same problems
Compounds
- Specialized
A large hawk-like bird that hunts over marshes in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa
- Specialized
A brown European bird of prey with a slim body and long wings often seen over fields
Surface Forms
Etymology
Circus comes from the Latin word circus, meaning 'circle' and sharing the root with the English word circle. The genus got this name because harriers are known for their circling flight while hunting, so the word describes how these birds move.