Cirque du Soleil Vocabulary

1. trapeze noun /trə'piz / n [C] a short bar hanging high up in the air from two ropes, which acrobats use to perform special swinging movements
   A glamorous couple performed on the flying trapeze.
   
   
2. trapeze artists acrobat noun /'æk.rə.bæt / n [C] a person who entertains people by doing difficult and skilful physical things, such as walking along a high wire
   
   
3. juggle verb ( ENTERTAIN ) /'dʒʌg.l / v [I or T] to throw several objects up into the air, and then catch and throw them up repeatedly so that one or more stays in the air, usually in order to entertain people
   We all watched in amazement as he juggled with three flaming torches.
   
   
4. mace noun ( ROD ) /meɪs/ n [C] a decorated rod that is carried by or put in front of particular public officials as a symbol of their authority
   
   
5. wild - tame
   
   
6. wail verb /weɪl / v [I or T] mainly disapproving to make a long, high cry, usually because of pain or sadness
   The women gathered around the coffin and began to wail, as was the custom in the region.
   [+ speech] "My finger hurts, " wailed the child.
   [I] informal to complain loudly or strongly
   [+ that] Business people wailed that their trade would be ruined.
   
   
7. itinerant adjective /a  ɪtɪn. ə r. ə nt / adj [before noun] travelling from one place to another, usually to work for a short period
   an itinerant journalist/labourer/preacher
   
   
8. stilt noun /stɪlts / n [C usually plural] one of a set of long pieces of wood or metal used to support a building so that it is above the ground or above water
   The houses are built on stilts to protect them from the annual floods. one of two long pieces of wood with supports for the feet which allow you to stand and walk high above the ground
   to walk on stilts
   
   
9. honed his skills - sharpened his skills
   
   
10. aluminium noun /æl. j  ʊmɪn.i.əm / n [u] UK (US aluminum) a light metallic element which is silver in colour and used especially for making cooking equipment and aircraft parts
    an aluminium saucepan
    Cover the fish with aluminium foil and cook over a low heat.
    We take all our aluminium cans for recycling.
    
    
11. sharpen verb ( ABLE TO CUT ) /ʃɑ.p ə n//ʃɑr-/ v [T] to make something sharp or sharper
    My pencil is blunt - I'll have to sharpen it.
    figurative The company is cutting production costs in an attempt to sharpen its competitive edge (= in order to improve how competitive it is).
    
    
12. hone verb ( MAKE SHARP ) /həʊn//hoʊn/ v [T] to sharpen an object The bone had been honed to a point.