clown

UK: /ˈklaʊn/ US: /klaʊn/ ,(kloun)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

clown /klaʊn/   n. [countable]

1. a performer, esp. in a circus, who wears a funny costume and makeup, and acts to make people laugh.
2. one who does pranks to make people laugh;
   a joker:
   He was a clown who had his classmates laughing.
3. Slang Terms Slang. a fool.

v. [no object* ~ (+ around)]

4. to act like a clown;
   act silly or playfully:
   The girls were clowning (around) most of the night.

clown•ish, adj. 
clown•ish•ly, adv. 
clown•ish•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

clown  (kloun), n. 

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.
4. Slang Terms a coarse, ill-bred person;
   a boor.
5. a peasant;
   rustic.

v.i. 

6. to act like a clown.

• earlier cloyne, clowne, perh. akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect, dialectal klunds, Swedish dialect, dialectal klunn log 1555–65

clown′ish, adj. 
clown′ish•ly, adv. 
clown′ish•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. lout, churl.
• 4. bumpkin.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

clown / klaʊn/ noun

1. a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus
2. a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner
3. a coarse clumsy rude person; boor
4. a countryman or rustic

verb (intransitive)

1. to perform as a clown
2. to play jokes or tricks
3. to act foolishly

Etymology: 16th Century: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Frisian klönne, Icelandic klunni clumsy fellow

ˈclownery noun

ˈclownish adjective

ˈclownishly adverb

ˈclownishness noun