Library / English Dictionary

CLOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior

Synonyms:

buffoon; clown; goof; goofball; merry andrew

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("clown" is a kind of...):

comedian; comic (a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clown"):

harlequin (a clown or buffoon (after the Harlequin character in the commedia dell'arte))

fool; jester; motley fool (a professional clown employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the Middle Ages)

whiteface (a clown whose face is covered with white make-up)

zany (a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect)

Instance hyponyms:

Emmett Kelly; Kelly; Weary Willie (United States circus clown (1898-1979))

Derivation:

clown (act as or like a clown)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A rude or vulgar fool

Synonyms:

buffoon; clown

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("clown" is a kind of...):

fool; muggins; sap; saphead; tomfool (a person who lacks good judgment)

Instance hyponyms:

Pantaloon (a buffoon in modern pantomimes; the butt of jokes)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act as or like a clown

Synonyms:

antic; clown; clown around

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "clown" is one way to...):

jest; joke (act in a funny or teasing way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

clown (a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior)

clowning (acting like a clown or buffoon)

clowning (a comic incident or series of incidents)

Credits