Circus & Fairground
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70 words
- acrobat/ˈæk.ɹə.bæt/noun · B2A performer of daring feats of balance and agility.
- applause/əˈplɔːz/noun · B1The thunder of many hands after a great performance.
- barker/ˈbɑː(ɹ)kɚ/noun · C1Somebody who shouts to draw a crowd to a show.
- big topnoun · B2The great tent a travelling show performs in.
- candyflossnoun · B1+Spun sugar sold on a stick.
- carousel/ˌkærəˈsɛl/noun · B1+The spinning ride of painted horses and fairground music.
- cartwheel/ˈkɑːtˌwiːl/noun · B1+A sideways turn of the body on hands and feet.
- circus/ˈsɜːkəs/noun · B1The traveling show under a big tent, with clowns and acrobats.
- clown/ˈklaʊ̯n/noun · A2The performer with a red nose and huge shoes who makes children laugh.
- coconut shynoun · C1A stall where you throw balls to knock nuts off posts.
- contortionist/kənˈtɔː(ɹ)ʃənɪst/noun · C1A performer who bends the body into extreme shapes.
- costume/ˈkɒs.tjuːm/noun · B1Special clothes that turn you into someone else for a night.
- curtain callnoun · B2The return of the cast to receive applause.
- custard pienoun · B2The soft missile thrown in a comic act.
- daredevil/ˈdɛədɛvəl/noun · B2Somebody who takes wild physical risks for show.
- dodgemsnoun · B2Small electric cars driven to bump each other.
- drumrollnoun · B2+A rapid rumble of drums before a big moment.
- elephant/ˈɛlɪfənt/noun · A1The biggest land animal, with a long trunk and big ears.
- encore/ˈɒŋkɔː/noun · B2+The extra song the crowd's cheering pulls the band back to play.
- ensemble/ˌɒ̃nˈsɒ̃m.bl̩/noun · B2+A group performing together as one.
- escapologist/ˈɛs.kəˌpɒl.ə.dʒɪst/noun · C1A performer who frees themselves from chains.
- fairground/ˈfɛə(ɹ)ɡɹaʊnd/noun · B1+The open ground where rides and stalls are set up.
- fanfare/ˈfænfɛə/noun · B2+A short loud flourish of trumpets.
- ferris wheelnoun · B1The giant slow wheel of cabins that lifts you above the fair.
- fire-eaternoun · B2A performer who puts flame into the mouth.
- funfairnoun · B1+A travelling collection of rides and stalls.
- grand finale/ˌɡɹænd fɪˈnɑːli/noun · B2The spectacular closing item of a show.
- greasepaint/ˈɡriːs.peɪnt/noun · C2The heavy make-up worn by stage performers.
- guy ropenoun · C1The line that holds a tent taut against the wind.
- handstand/ˈhændˌstænd/noun · B1+Balancing upside down on your hands.
- hawker/ˈhɔːkə/noun · C1A trader who sells goods by calling them out.
- helter-skelter/ˌhɛltɚˈskɛltɚ/noun · C1A tall tower with a spiral slide around it.
- high wirenoun · B2A rope stretched high for walking across.
- hoopla/ˈhuːplɑ/noun · C2A game of throwing rings over prizes.
- human cannonballnoun · B2A performer fired from a great tube.
- jester/ˈd͡ʒɛs.tə/noun · B2+A comic entertainer at a royal court.
- juggler/ˈd͡ʒʌɡl̩ə(ɹ)/noun · B1+Somebody who keeps several objects in the air at once.
- leotard/ˈliː.ə.tɑːd/noun · B2+A tight one-piece garment worn by performers.
- lion tamernoun · B1A performer who works with big cats.
- marquee/(ˌ)mɑː(ɹ)ˈkiː/noun · B2+A large tent for an event, or a theatre's front sign.
- menagerie/məˈnæd͡ʒəɹɪ/noun · C1A collection of wild animals kept for show.
- mime/maɪm/verb · B2To act something out without speaking.
- performing sealnoun · B2A circus sea creature trained to balance a ball on its nose for a crowd.
- popcorn/ˈpɒp.kɔːn/noun · B1A puffed snack that pops in a hot pan; you eat it at the cinema.
- pratfallnoun · C2A comic fall on the backside.
- puppet/ˈpʌpɪt/noun · B1A figure worked by hand or by strings.
- rigging/ˈɹɪɡɪŋ/noun · B2+All the ropes and wires that hold up the masts.
- ringmasternoun · B2The person who introduces each act in the ring.
- roller coasternoun · B1The fast twisting ride of climbs, drops, and screams.
- safety netnoun · B2The mesh stretched below to catch a falling performer.
- sawdust/ˈsɔːˌdʌst/noun · B1+The fine powder left behind by cutting wood.
- sequin/ˈsiː.kwɪn/noun · B2+A tiny shiny disc sewn on to catch the light.
- sideshow/ˈsaɪdˌʃoʊ/noun · B2+A small separate attraction beside the main show.
- slapsticknoun · B2+Comedy of falls, chases and knockabout blows.
- somersault/ˈsʌməˌsɒlt/noun · C1A complete roll of the body head over heels.
- spangle/ˈspæŋɡəl/noun · C2A glittering ornament on a costume.
- spotlight/ˈspɒtˌlaɪt/noun · B1+A strong beam on one performer, or public attention.
- stilt walkernoun · B2A performer who walks on tall poles.
- sword swallowernoun · B2A performer who lowers a blade down the throat.
- tent pegnoun · B1The spike hammered in to hold a rope to the ground.
- tightrope/ˈtaɪtˌɹoʊp/noun · B2A tautly stretched rope performers balance on.
- toffee applenoun · B1A fruit coated in hard sweet syrup on a stick.
- trapeze/tɹəˈpiːz/noun · B2+A bar hung on ropes for swinging performers.
- troupe/tɹuːp/noun · C1A travelling group of performers.
- tumble/ˈtʌmbl̩/verb · B1+To fall or roll over and over.
- turnstile/ˈtəːnstaɪl/noun · B2+The barrier that lets one person through at a time.
- unicycle/ˈjun.ɪˌsaɪ.kəl/noun · B2+A cycle with a single wheel and no handlebars.
- ventriloquist/vɛnˈtɹɪl.ə.kwɪst/noun · B2A performer who makes a dummy seem to speak.
- waltzernoun · C2A fairground ride of spinning tubs.
- wig/wɪɡ/noun · A2+Artificial hair worn over your own.