detour

/ˌdiˈtʊər/

/ˈditɔ/

Other forms: detours; detoured; detouring

A detour is a longer, less direct way to get where you're going. A traffic accident sometimes means you have to take a detour to get home.

When signs direct drivers to take a detour, it's usually because of road work or an emergency that's blocking traffic. You can also detour, or take an unexpected route, while you're running errands, stopping at your favorite bakery for a cookie before you continue on. The French détour comes from the verb destorner, "turn aside."

Definitions of detour

1. noun

   a roundabout road (especially one that is used temporarily while a main route is blocked)
   synonyms: roundabout way

   type of:

   road, route

   an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
2. verb

   travel via a detour
   type of:

   deviate, divert

   turn aside; turn away from