roundabout
UK[ˈraʊndəbaʊt]US[ˈraʊndəbaʊt]
adj
not following the shortest or most direct route; indirect.
adj
not straightforward in speech or action; circuitous.
n
a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction around a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it; a traffic circle.
n
a large revolving device in a playground, for children to ride on.
Morpheme Breakdown
round
about
round
circular, spherical, like a wheel.
about
on the outside, around.
Etymology
the word 'roundabout' is a transparent english compound, formed from the native english elements 'round' and 'about'. both elements trace back to proto-germanic origins, with 'round' related to concepts of circularity and rotation, and 'about' conveying the sense of being on the outside or encircling something. the compound first emerged in the late 16th century with the adjectival meaning of "indirect or circuitous," logically describing a path that goes "round" and "about" rather than straight to the point. this literal spatial sense was later applied to specific nouns, giving us the modern terms for the circular road junction and the revolving playground ride, both of which physically involve motion around a central point.
Analysis
Structure: round + about
- round: from old english, meaning "circular, spherical, like a wheel." functions as an adjective/adverb indicating circular shape or motion.
- about: from old english, meaning "on the outside, around." functions as an adverb/preposition indicating surrounding position or direction.
Examples
we took a roundabout route to avoid the traffic.
he asked in a roundabout way if i was planning to leave.
take the second exit at the roundabout.