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Circus vs. Roundabout — What's the Difference?

Circus vs. Roundabout — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Circus and Roundabout

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Circus

A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, unicyclists, as well as other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists. The term circus also describes the performance which has followed various formats through its 250-year modern history.

Roundabout

A roundabout is a type of round (about) intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.Engineers use the term modern roundabout to refer to junctions installed after 1960 that incorporate various design rules to increase safety. Both modern and non-modern roundabouts, however, may bear street names or be identified colloquially by local names such as circle, road circle, traffic circle, rotary, rotunda or island.

Circus

A travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and other entertainers which gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places
A circus elephant
I was thrilled by the annual visits of the circus

Roundabout

A road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it.
Turn right at the next roundabout

Circus

(in ancient Rome) a rounded or oval arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games
The Circus Maximus
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Roundabout

A large revolving device in a playground, for children to ride on.

Circus

A rounded open space in a town or city where several streets converge
Piccadilly Circus

Roundabout

Not following a short direct route; circuitous
We need to take a roundabout route to throw off any pursuit

Circus

A public entertainment consisting typically of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns, and often trained animals.

Roundabout

Indirect; circuitous
Took a roundabout route because the bridge was closed.

Circus

A traveling company that performs such entertainments.

Roundabout

Characterized by indirectness, evasiveness, or vagueness
A roundabout claim that avoided the issues being discussed.

Circus

A circular arena, surrounded by tiers of seats and often covered by a tent, in which such shows are performed.

Roundabout

A short, close-fitting jacket.

Circus

A roofless oval enclosure surrounded by tiers of seats that was used in antiquity for public spectacles.

Roundabout

A merry-go-round.

Circus

Chiefly British An open circular place where several streets intersect.

Roundabout

A traffic circle.

Circus

(Informal) Something suggestive of a circus, as in frenetic activity or noisy disorder
"I was amazed at the amount of hubbub in the lobby ... it was a circus. The check-in area brought to mind a mustering station on a foundering cruise ship" (Bill Bryson).

Roundabout

Indirect, circuitous, or circumlocutionary.

Circus

A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.
The circus will be in town next week.

Roundabout

Encircling; enveloping; comprehensive.

Circus

A round open space in a town or city where multiple streets meet.
Oxford Circus in London is at the north end of Regent Street.

Roundabout

A road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island.

Circus

(figurative) A spectacle; a noisy fuss; a chaotic and/or crowded place.

Roundabout

A horizontal wheel which rotates around a central axis when pushed and on which children ride, often found in parks as a children's play apparatus.

Circus

(historical) In the ancient Roman Empire, a building for chariot racing.

Roundabout

A fairground carousel.

Circus

A code name for bomber attacks with fighter escorts in the day time. The attacks were against short-range targets with the intention of occupying enemy fighters and keeping their fighter units in the area concerned.

Roundabout

A detour.

Circus

(obsolete) Circuit; space; enclosure.

Roundabout

A short, close-fitting coat or jacket worn by men or boys, especially in the 19th century.

Circus

To take part in a circus; or to be displayed as if in a circus

Roundabout

(archaic) A round dance.

Circus

A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows.

Roundabout

To play on a roundabout (carousel)

Circus

A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage.

Roundabout

To travel round roundabouts

Circus

Circuit; space; inclosure.
The narrow circus of my dungeon wall.

Roundabout

To talk in a roundabout, indirect manner

Circus

A travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals;
He ran away from home to join the circus

Roundabout

Circuitous; going round; indirect; as, roundabout speech.
We have taken a terrible roundabout road.

Circus

Performance given by a traveling company of acrobats clowns and trained animals;
The children always love to go to the circus

Roundabout

Encircling; enveloping; comprehensive.

Circus

A frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a circus or carnival;
It was so funny it was a circus
The whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere

Roundabout

A large horizontal wheel or frame, commonly with wooden horses, etc., on which children ride; a merry-go-round; a carousel.

Circus

(antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games

Roundabout

A dance performed in a circle.

Circus

An arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent;
They used the elephants to help put up the circus

Roundabout

A short, close jacket worn by boys, sailors, etc.

Circus

A genus of haws comprising the harriers

Roundabout

A state or scene of constant change, or of recurring labor and vicissitude.

Roundabout

A traffic circle.

Roundabout

A road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island;
The accident blocked all traffic at the rotary

Roundabout

Large mechanical apparatus with seats for children to ride on

Roundabout

Marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct;
The explanation was circuitous and puzzling
A roundabout paragraph
Hear in a roundabout way that her ex-husband was marrying her best friend

Roundabout

Deviating from a straight course;
A scenic but devious route
A long and circuitous journey by train and boat
A roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic

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