1. an alternative route taken to avoid a blocked or closed road
2. a deviation from a planned or expected course of action

1. to take an alternative route to avoid an obstruction
2. to cause someone or something to take an alternative route

Examples

• Construction forced us to take a detour through the residential area.
• The GPS suggested a detour to avoid heavy traffic on the highway.
• Her career took an unexpected detour when she decided to study abroad.
• We had to detour around the fallen tree blocking the road.
• The police detoured traffic away from the accident scene.
• What started as a quick trip became a lengthy detour through the mountains.
• The flooding will detour commuters for at least a week.