0 a group of travelling performers including acrobats (= people skilled in difficult physical movements) or those who work with trained animals, or a performance by such people usually in a large tent:
1 a lot of activity and interest caused by an event or situation:
the media circus surrounding the case
2 an open circular area where several roads join:
Piccadilly Circus
Oxford Circus
3 a group of traveling entertainers including acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, or a performance by such a group, often in a tent:
Mummy and Daddy are taking me to the circus on Saturday.
We noticed a poster advertising a circus.
One of the acrobats who walked the tightrope at the circus did it blindfolded.