a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
"The circus clown delighted the children by slipping on banana peels and juggling flaming torches."
A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly colored wig.
"The traveling circus featured a hilarious clown who wore a red nose, oversized shoes, and a garish feathered wig while juggling colorful balls on the main stage."
In plain English: A clown is an entertainer who wears funny makeup and costumes to make people laugh with silly acts.
"The children laughed when they saw the clown juggling colorful balls at the birthday party."
Usage: Use "clown" as a noun to describe an entertainer known for slapstick humor and exaggerated costumes, such as those found at circuses. As a verb, it refers specifically to behaving in a foolishly cheerful manner rather than simply being silly.
act as or like a clown
"The magician pretended to be clumsy and fell over intentionally to make the children laugh."
To act in a silly or playful fashion.
"The children loved it when their uncle would clown around during dinner to make them laugh."
In plain English: To clown around means to act silly and make jokes just for fun without taking anything seriously.
"The pranksters decided to clown on their friends during the surprise party."
The word clown likely comes from North Germanic languages related to words meaning a clumsy fellow. It originally referred to a man with rustic or coarse manners before evolving into its current sense of an entertainer who performs in humorous costumes and makeup.