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View synonyms for clown

clown

[ kloun ]

noun

  1. a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
  2. a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.
  3. a prankster; a practical joker.

    Synonyms: churl, lout

  4. Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.

    Synonyms: bumpkin

  5. a peasant; rustic.


verb (used without object)

  1. to act like a clown.

clown

/ klaʊn /

noun

  1. a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus
  2. any performer who elicits an amused response
  3. someone who plays jokes or tricks
  4. a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner
  5. a coarse clumsy rude person; boor
  6. archaic.
    a countryman or rustic
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to perform as a clown
  2. to play jokes or tricks
  3. to act foolishly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈclownery, noun
  • ˈclownishness, noun
  • ˈclownishly, adverb
  • ˈclownish, adjective
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Other Words From

  • clownish adjective
  • clownish·ly adverb
  • clownish·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of clown1

1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log
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Word History and Origins

Origin of clown1

C16: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Frisian klönne, Icelandic klunni clumsy fellow
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Example Sentences

A talent who can rap, hit a falsetto, and isn’t afraid to be goofy on wax, Raj’s music and skills show why he is a powerful teacher and a class clown you need to add to your own playlist queue.

We made them look ridiculous by contrasting our joyous celebration of democracy with their clown show.

From Time

One piece follows a waitress on the hunt for her missing daughter, another captures what happens when a drug dealer meets a lawyer and a clown at a bar.

From Time

Mazel tov on your engagement, Hannah — your gift of a disembodied clown head on a plank will be in the mail soon.

I didn’t find a good hat, but I did happen to find one lot of 100 little disembodied, glummish clown heads — they looked so Loserly!

So many families come that Vargas has arranged for a clown to entertain the kids.

An 18-year-old man dressed as a clown mugged a pedestrian, striking him 30 times in the back and neck with an iron bar.

There have more recent reports of Wasco Clown inspired sightings from as far away as Fishers, Indiana.

The subtext of the clown is that life is a joke and can be snatched away at any moment.

There is something about a clown that stays with people: the bright colors, their tendency to be demonstrative.

Wheeler and Smith formed a junction, and moved clown upon the abandoned post of Budhawal.

He must have fallen asleep again, for, when he opened his eyes, there was the clown at the foot of his bed making a face.

It was a singular fact about the clown that the slightest check seemed to take away all his brilliancy.

As he looked back, he could see the clown galloping round the corner and hear his yell of discovery.

Breakfast was over at last, and the clown took Tommy's arm and walked upstairs to the first floor with him.

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