circular route

Path returning home

A circular route is a path that returns to its starting point, forming a loop.

The term appears in travel and transportation: a circular bus route, a circular hiking trail.

Unlike an out-and-back route, you don't retrace your steps: We took a circular route through the mountains and arrived home from the opposite direction.

loopCurve closing on itself
closed loopSystem with continuous feedback
roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
orbitCurved celestial path
ringClosed curve shape

lap · detour · bypass · cycle · journey · return · back home · winding · scenic · scenic drive · road trip · trail · path · track · compass · revolution · tour · beltway

Categories

navigation errorsmissed exit, wrong direction, wrong way, off course, getting lost
transit routessubway lines, metro lines, bus line, tram line, rail lines
travel typescommute, road trip, trips, vacations, pilgrimage

Opposites

path topology

circular routeone-way trip

Outbound journey only

straight line · direct route · one-way street · cul-de-sac

directional structure

circular routestraight shot

Direct unimpeded trajectory

beeline · direct line

directionality and reversibility

circular routereturn trip

Journey to starting point

round trip · out-and-back

Family

circular, route, circle, circles, circled, circling, circlet, circuitous, circuit

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G