roundabout
(raʊndəbaʊt )
Word forms: roundabouts
1. countable noun A2
A roundabout is a circular structure in the road at a place where several roads meet. You drive round it until you come to the road that you want. [British]
regional note: in AM, use traffic circle2. countable noun
A roundabout at a fair is a large, circular mechanical device with seats, often in the shape of animals or cars, on which children sit and go round and round. [British]
regional note: in AM, use merry-go-round, carousel3. countable noun
A roundabout in a park or school play area is a circular platform that children sit or stand on. People push the platform to make it spin round. [British]
regional note: in AM, use merry-go-round 4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you go somewhere by a roundabout route, you do not go there by the shortest and quickest route.
The party took a roundabout route overland.
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you do or say something in a roundabout way, you do not do or say it in a simple, clear, and direct way.
We made a bit of a fuss in a roundabout way.
...using indirect or roundabout language in place of a precise noun.
6. round about phrase
In spoken English, round about means approximately. [mainly British, vagueness]
Round about one and a half million people died.
...a system that was abolished round about 1902.
Synonyms: approximately, about, around, generally
7. swings and roundabouts phrase
If you say that a situation is swings and roundabouts, you mean that there are as many gains as there are losses. [British]
Image of roundabout
© Ian Bracegirdle, Shutterstock
Collocations:
roundabout route traffic roundabout
The motor in which he was conveyed was driven towards the gaol by a very roundabout route in order to shake off the crowd.
Times, Sunday Times
But you can regain control of the flat by a roundabout route.
Times, Sunday Times
Others took a roundabout route through neighbouring countries by any means available, some after being interned for a period of time.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The road between the two locations takes a roundabout route of 6.9 milesaccounting for the erroneous reports.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
When making an approach march for a planned battle, a long, roundabout route was generally taken, often criss-crossing earlier movements to fool enemy surveillance.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Far better just to gaze out of the windows which this redevelopment has opened on to the busy traffic roundabout in which the museum sits.
Times, Sunday Times
His huge metal wind-toy sculptures turn every main traffic roundabout into a work of art.
Times, Sunday Times
Outside the central green space, the squere has the purpose of traffic roundabout with a several bus stops for city bus routes.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A section of the original footbridge adorns the centre island of one of the road traffic roundabouts.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Translations:
Chinese: 交通转盘, 绕远的, 拐弯抹角的
Japanese: 環状交差路, 遠回りの, 遠回りの