cirque

noun

ˈsərk How to pronounce cirque (audio)
Synonyms of cirquenext
1
archaic : circus
2
: circle, circlet
3
: a deep steep-walled basin on a mountain usually forming the blunt end of a valley

Illustration of cirque

Illustration of cirque
  • cirque 3

Synonyms of cirque

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Examples of cirque in a Sentence

the harvest moon was a glowing cirque in autumn sky
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The glacier was likely a cirque glacier, the officials said, which is a glacier that has formed in a depression or basin high in the mountains. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026 Opryland features more than 10 holiday events, from ice tubing to a cirque show. — Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025 See this high-flying spectacle performed by the world's most elite cirque performers. — Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2025 The traveling variety show featuring high-flying cirque performances stops at Butler. — Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cirque

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin circus

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cirque was in 1601

Rhymes for cirque

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Browse Nearby Words

Cirolana
cirque
cirr-
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Cite this Entry

“Cirque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cirque. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cirque

noun
ˈsərk How to pronounce cirque (audio)
: a deep basin on a mountain that is shaped like half a bowl
Etymology

French, from Latin circus "circle, arena"

More from Merriam-Webster on cirque

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cirque

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