Roundabout

//ˈɹaʊndəˌbaʊt// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Indirect, circuitous, or circumlocutionary.

    "[S]he fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she reached her own room."

  2. 2
    Encircling; enveloping; comprehensive.

    "The third sort is of those who readily and sincerely follow reason, but for want of having that which one may call a large, sound, roundabout sense, have not a full view of all that relates to the question."

Adjective
  1. 1
    deviating from a straight course wordnet
  2. 2
    marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New-England, New-Zealand, UK, US, especially, sometimes
  2. 2
    a large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride on for amusement wordnet
  3. 3
    A horizontal wheel which rotates around a central axis when pushed and on which children ride, often found in parks as a children's play apparatus. British
  4. 4
    a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island wordnet
  5. 5
    A fairground carousel.
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    A detour.
  2. 7
    A short, close-fitting coat or jacket worn by men or boys, especially in the 19th century.
  3. 8
    A round dance. archaic
Verb
  1. 1
    To play on a roundabout (carousel)
  2. 2
    To travel round roundabouts
  3. 3
    To talk in a roundabout, indirect manner

Etymology

Etymology 1

From round + about [from early 20th c.].

Etymology 2

From round + about [from early 20th c.].

Etymology 3

From round + about [from early 20th c.].

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