de
tour
Plural
detours
1
a temporary route used to bypass a closed or blocked section of road
A detour is a temporary change in the usual route due to roadwork, an accident, or other obstacles. It directs drivers to use an alternate path to avoid a blocked or unsafe area. Detours are meant to keep traffic moving smoothly and safely, even if it means taking a longer or less direct route. Signs or signals are often placed to guide drivers along the detour and help them return to their original route once the issue is resolved.
- They took a detour due to road construction.
- She followed the detour signs to avoid the accident.
- He encountered delays on the detour route.
- They planned a detour around the flooded road.
- There was a detour around the construction zone.
Synonyms:
2
a shift in focus or attention away from the primary subject or task
- The meeting took a detour when they started discussing the new project.
- The conversation took a detour and moved onto a completely different topic.
- His talk about his childhood was an unexpected detour in the discussion.
3
a change or diversion from the planned path, often due to unexpected obstacles or circumstances
- A detour added an hour to our travel time.
- The GPS suggested a detour to avoid heavy traffic.
- The detour led us through unfamiliar streets.
- The detour added an extra 20 minutes to our journey.
- We took a detour to avoid the flooded road.