Ma'anar ƙamus na "babban saman" yana nufin babban tanti, madauwari ko siffa mai siffar kwai wadda aka saba amfani da ita azaman babban filin wasan kwaikwayo. Ana amfani da kalmar "babban saman" sau da yawa tare da "tantin circus," kuma yawanci yana da babban koloji da goyan bayan igiya ta tsakiya da igiya. Hakanan ana amfani da kalmar "ƙarƙashin babban saman" don nufin duniyar dawafi, ko kuma wani takamaiman taron ko wasan kwaikwayon da ke gudana a cikin tanti.