roundabout (n.)

  1. a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island; the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary

    [ Syn: traffic circle , circle , rotary ]

  2. a large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride or amusement

    [ Syn: carousel , carrousel , merry-go-round , whirligig ]

    roundabout (adj.)

  1. marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct; the explanation was circuitous and puzzling; a roundabout paragraph; hear in a roundabout way that her ex-husband was marrying her best friend

    [ Syn: circuitous ]

  2. deviating from a straight course; a scenic but devious route; a long and circuitous journey by train and boat; a roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic

    [ Syn: devious , circuitous ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
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