clownish


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Related to clownish: Clownfish

clown

 (kloun)
n.
1.
a. A buffoon or jester who entertains by jokes, antics, and tricks in a circus, play, or other presentation.
b. One who jokes and plays tricks.
2. A coarse, rude, vulgar person; a boor.
3. A peasant; a rustic.
intr.v. clowned, clown·ing, clowns
1. To behave like a buffoon or jester.
2. To perform as a buffoon or jester.
3. To krump, especially in clown makeup.
[Of Scandinavian origin (akin to Icelandic klunni, clumsy person) or of Low German origin.]
clown′er n.
clown′ish adj.
clown′ish·ly adv.
clown′ish·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.clownish - like a clownclownish - like a clown; "a buffoonish walk"; "a clownish face"; "a zany sense of humor"
buffoonish, clownlike, zany
humorous, humourous - full of or characterized by humor; "humorous stories"; "humorous cartoons"; "in a humorous vein"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
تَهْريجي، كالبَهْلول
šaškovský
tåbelig
bohóckodó
fíflalegur, klaufskur
šašovský
soytarı gibi

clownish

[ˈklaʊnɪʃ] ADJ [person] → cómico; [behaviour] → de payaso; [sense of humour] → de payaso, tonto
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

clownish

[ˈklaʊnɪʃ] adj [appearance, behaviour] → clownesque
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

clownish

adj → albern, clownesk (geh)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

clownish

[ˈklaʊnɪʃ] adj → claunesco/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

clown

(klaun) noun
1. a person who works in a circus, performing funny acts (usually ridiculously dressed).
2. any person who behaves ridiculously.
verb
to behave ridiculously. Stop clowning.
ˈclownish adjective
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
``Yea, but,'' answered the Disinherited Knight, thou hast ever kept me in anxiety lest thy clownish bearing should discover thee.''
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The goatherd's tale gave great satisfaction to all the hearers, and the canon especially enjoyed it, for he had remarked with particular attention the manner in which it had been told, which was as unlike the manner of a clownish goatherd as it was like that of a polished city wit; and he observed that the curate had been quite right in saying that the woods bred men of learning.
One of those who supported it, leaving the burden to his comrades, advanced to meet him, flourishing a forked stick that he had for propping up the stand when resting, and with this he caught a mighty cut Don Quixote made at him that severed it in two; but with the portion that remained in his hand he dealt such a thwack on the shoulder of Don Quixote's sword arm (which the buckler could not protect against the clownish assault) that poor Don Quixote came to the ground in a sad plight.
View in context
At the beginning of the feast a tall, clownish young man knelt before the Queen of the Fairies asking as a boon that to him might be given the first adventure that might befall.
Then the "clownish person" started up and demanded the adventure.
View in context
I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air.
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If I had, I could have wept sentimental tears to-night, and the clownish antics of that precious pair would have but enhanced the beauty of their voices and the beauty of the accompanying orchestra.
View in context
He has won over many Britons who have grown disheartened with a political establishment seen as preoccupied with the London elite, but his detractors believe that his "clownish" character renders him unfit for the job.
Britain's new leader Johnson's career comes full circle after ballot win
Then he has to confront all of his clownish fears in finding the solution to a sudden murder case.
Who's whodunit; SQUARE EYES
In his new film, the darkly comic dramedy "To Dust," Rohrig plays a slightly clownish, slightly morose contemporary Hasidic cantor named Shmuel at a synagogue in upstate New York.
Body and soul Death (and decomposition) bring two men together in darkly comic 'To Dust'
It's all fun and games if it were only his clownish disposition that was the topic of discussion, but the man doesn't stop at that and has been known to be rather curt and acerbic to individuals posted on duty.
Media Watch: The boy who cried 75 percent
Whether it's an electric eye or look-at-me lip, the chicest way to go bold is by bedecking one area of your face--then keep the rest of your look low-key to avoid a clownish effect.
SEEING RED

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