clown

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clown /kl'aʊn/ (clowns clowning clowned)
1 [N-COUNT]
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.
2 [VERB] V
If you clown, you do silly things in order to make people laugh.
Bruno clowned and won affection everywhere.
= mess around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Clown around and clown about mean the same as clown.
Bev made her laugh, the way she was always clowning around.
● clowning [N-UNCOUNT]
She senses that behind the clowning there is a terrible sense of anguish.
3 [N-COUNT]
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
4 [N-COUNT]
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

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