roundabout

UK: /ˈraʊndəbaʊt/

US: /adj. ˌraʊndəˈbaʊt, ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt; n. ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt/

US: (adj. round′ə bout′, round′ə bout′; n. round′ə bout′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

round•a•bout /adj. ˌraʊndəˈbaʊt, ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt; n. ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt/   adj. 

1. not straight or direct:
   In his roundabout way he was saying he cared for her.

n. [countable] [Brit.]

2. Transport, British Terms a traffic circle:
   Stay to your left at the next roundabout.
3. British Terms a merry-go-round.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

round•a•bout  (adj. round′ə bout′, round′ə bout′;n. round′ə bout′), adj. 

1. circuitous or indirect, as a road, journey, method, statement or person.
2. Clothing (of clothing) cut circularly at the bottom;
   having no tails, train, or the like.

n. 

3. Clothing a short, close-fitting coat or jacket worn by men or boys, esp. in the 19th century.
4. British Terms a merry-go-round.
5. a circuitous or indirect road, method, etc.
6. Transport, British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] See traffic circle. 

• round¹ (adverb, adverbial) + about 1525–35

Synonyms

• 1. . meandering, twisting, rambling, tortuous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

roundabout / ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt/ noun

1. a revolving circular platform provided with wooden animals, seats, etc, on which people ride for amusement; merry-go-round
2. a road junction in which traffic streams circulate around a central island
   US and Canadian name: traffic circle

adjective

1. indirect or circuitous; devious

adverb , preposition round about

1. on all sides: spectators standing round about
2. approximately: at round about 5 o'clock

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ˈtraf•fic ˌcir•cle, n. [countable]

1. Transport a circle built where two or more roads meet, in order to allow easier passage of vehicles from one road to another. Also called rotary;
    [Brit.,] roundabout. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

traf′fic cir′cle, 

1. a circular arrangement constructed at the intersection of two or more roads in order to facilitate the passage of vehicles from one road to another. Also called rotary;
    [Brit.,] roundabout. 

• 1945–50