CLOWN


Meaning of CLOWN in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ klaʊn ]

( clowns, clowning, clowned)

1.

A clown is a performer in a circus who wears funny clothes and bright make-up, and does silly things in order to make people laugh.

N-COUNT

2.

If you clown , you do silly things in order to make people laugh.

Bruno clowned and won affection everywhere.

= mess around

VERB : V

Clown around and clown about mean the same as clown .

Bev made her laugh, the way she was always clowning around.

PHRASAL VERB : V P

• clown‧ing

She senses that behind the clowning there is a terrible sense of anguish.

N-UNCOUNT

3.

If you say that someone is a clown , you mean that they say funny things or do silly things to amuse people.

He was laughing, the clown of the twosome.

= joker

N-COUNT

4.

If you describe someone as a clown , you disapprove of them and have no respect for them. ( INFORMAL )

I still think I could do a better job than those clowns in Washington.

= idiot, fool

N-COUNT [ disapproval ]

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.