Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense detours, present participle detouring, past tense, past participle detoured
1. countable noun
If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a route which is not the shortest way, because you want to avoid something such as a traffic jam, or because there is something you want to do on the way.
He did not take the direct route home, but made a detour around the outskirts ofthe city.
Synonyms: diversion [British], bypass, deviation, circuitous route More Synonyms of detour
2. countable noun
A detour is a special route for traffic to follow when the normal route is blocked, for example because it is being repaired.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use diversion
3. verb
If you detour, you make a detour.
On the way back, Jarvis detoured to check the time of services at the church. [VERB]
[Also VERB preposition]
detour in British English
(ˈdiːtʊə)
noun
1.
a deviation from a direct, usually shorter route or course of action
verb
2.
to deviate or cause to deviate from a direct route or course of action
Word origin
C18: from French détour, from Old French destorner to divert, turn away, from des-de- + torner to turn
detour in American English
(ˈdiˌtʊr; also diˈtʊr; dɪˈtʊr)
noun
1.
a roundabout way; deviation from a direct way
2.
a route used when the direct or regular route is closed to traffic
verb intransitive
3.
to go by way of a detour
verb transitive
4. US
to cause to go by way of a detour
5.
to go around or avoid by using a detour; bypass
Word origin
Fr détour, a turning, evasion < détourner, to turn aside < OFr destourner < des- (L dis-), away + tourner: see turn
Examples of 'detour' in a sentence
detour
Stop there for a cream tea or in spring make a short detour to see the bluebells.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Sometimes the need to change course or make a detour is more subtle.
Christianity Today (2000)
Now you need to make an important detour.
Delaforce, Patrick Collins Traveller-Tuscany and Florence (1993)
Worth making an effort but not a long detour.
Brown, Sarah Sarah Brown's Vegetarian London (1988)
Why not take a detour to a garden in search of an ephemeral beauty or two?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He charged his work for the mileage he notched up on just the detour home.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is going to mean a long detour, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Parents accompany the pupils over the bridge to avoid a 30-minute detour on the school run.
The Sun (2012)
The couple have blocked access to the track, forcing horse owners to make a long and muddy detour across fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Suppose a ladder is propped up against a wall, and a man walking along next to the wall makes a detour around the ladder.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
But can she avoid the detour she meant to miss, stopping near their old California house?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If it was a minor technical fault, you wouldn't expect him to take a long detour over the sea.
The Sun (2010)
Many cyclists choose to dismount and walk, cycle along the pavement or make a long detour up and down the city's notorious hills.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
detour
British English: detour /ˈdiːtʊə/ NOUN
If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a route which is not the shortest way.
He did not take the direct route to his home, but made a detour.
American English: detour
Arabic: تـَحْوِيل
Brazilian Portuguese: desvio
Chinese: 迂回路
Croatian: zaobilaženje
Czech: oklika
Danish: omvej
Dutch: omleiding
European Spanish: rodeo
Finnish: kiertotie
French: détour
German: Umweg
Greek: παράκαμψη
Italian: deviazione
Japanese: 回り道
Korean: 우회
Norwegian: omvei
Polish: objazd
European Portuguese: desvio
Romanian: ocol
Russian: объезд
Latin American Spanish: rodeo
Swedish: omväg
Thai: อ้อม
Turkish: güzergah değiştirme
Ukrainian: об'їзд
Vietnamese: đường vòng
Chinese translation of 'detour'
detour
(ˈdiːtuəʳ)
n(c)
to make a detour绕(繞)道 (ràodào) (次, cì)
(US, on road) 绕(繞)行道路 (ràoxíng dàolù) (条(條), tiáo)
英 = diversion
(noun)
Definition
a deviation from a direct route or course of action
He made a detour around the outskirts of the city.