/ ˈraʊndəbaʊt; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun ( BrE )
1.
( NAmE ˈtraffic circle , ro·tary ) a place where two or more roads meet, forming a circle that all traffic must go around in the same direction :
At the roundabout, take the second exit.
—see also mini-roundabout
2.
( NAmE ˈmerry-go-round ) a round platform for children to play on in a park, etc. that is pushed round while the children are sitting on it
3.
( BrE ) = merry-go-round (1)
•
IDIOMS
see swing noun
■ adjective
[ usually before noun ] not done or said using the shortest, simplest or most direct way possible :
It was a difficult and roundabout trip.
He told us, in a very roundabout way, that he was thinking of leaving.