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

Elsewhere in Sutton, red crosses have been painted on white mini roundabouts to emulate the pattern of the St George's cross.

From BBC

More floral arrangements depicting China's fight against Japan sit proudly on prominent roadsides and roundabouts.

From BBC

The roundabout has been covered with red and white tape while flowers and other tributes have been left nearby.

From BBC

Manchester United will be heavily involved in the transfer roundabout before close of play on Monday - certainly when it comes to outgoings.

From BBC

A man in the suburb of Kings Heath, where a roundabout was vandalised, said it was "not patriotic, it just feels like an excuse for xenophobia".

From BBC