roundabout

[round-uh-bout, round-uh-bout, round-uh-bout]

adjective

1. circuitous or indirect, as a road, journey, method, statement or person.

   Synonyms: tortuous, tortuous, rambling, rambling

2. (of clothing) cut circularly at the bottom; having no tails, train, or the like.

noun

1. a short, close-fitting coat or jacket worn by men or boys, especially in the 19th century.

2. British.,  a merry-go-round.

3. a circuitous or indirect road, method, etc.

4. Chiefly British.,  traffic circle.

roundabout

/ ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a revolving circular platform provided with wooden animals, seats, etc, on which people ride for amusement; merry-go-round

2. US and Canadian name: traffic circle. a road junction in which traffic streams circulate around a central island

3. an informal name for boring mill

adjective

1. indirect or circuitous; devious

adverb

1. on all sides

   spectators standing round about

2. approximately

   at round about 5 o'clock

Word History and Origins

Origin of roundabout¹

1525–35; round ¹ (adv.) + about

Example Sentences

The truck had been going east on Bishop Street and making a turn on the roundabout when it hit the woman as she was crossing the street, authorities said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Today, bicycles and bright yellow three-wheeled "keke" taxis flit along paved streets or new highway flyovers direct traffic over packed roundabouts.

Read more on Barron's

What happened Tuesday is serious and big, but I start in a roundabout way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Swansea council said pumping equipment brought in to alleviate flood waters at Cwmbwrla roundabout had been "overwhelmed".

Read more on BBC

They drove all the way out to the farthest fields, to a little roundabout at the very end of the driveway.

Read more on Literature