bypass

or by-pass

[ bahy-pas, -pahs ]

noun

1. a road enabling motorists to avoid a city or other heavy traffic points or to drive around an obstruction.
2. a secondary pipe or other channel connected with a main passage, as for conducting a liquid or gas around a fixture, pipe, or appliance.
3. Electricity. shunt ( def 9 ).
4. a surgical procedure in which a diseased or obstructed hollow organ is temporarily or permanently circumvented. Compare coronary bypass, gastric bypass, heart-lung machine, intestinal bypass.

verb (used with object)

, by·passed or (Rare) by·past; by·passed or by·past; by·pass·ing.

1. to avoid (an obstruction, city, etc.) by following a bypass.
2. to cause (fluid or gas) to follow a secondary pipe or bypass.
3. to neglect to consult or to ignore the opinion or decision of:

   He bypassed the foreman and took his grievance straight to the owner.

bypass

/ ˈbaɪˌpɑːs /

noun

1. a main road built to avoid a city or other congested area
2. any system of pipes or conduits for redirecting the flow of a liquid
3. a means of redirecting the flow of a substance around an appliance through which it would otherwise pass
4. surgery
   1. the redirection of blood flow, either to avoid a diseased blood vessel or in order to perform heart surgery See coronary bypass
   2. ( as modifier )

      bypass surgery

5. electronics
   1. an electrical circuit, esp one containing a capacitor, connected in parallel around one or more components, providing an alternative path for certain frequencies
   2. ( as modifier )

      a bypass capacitor

verb

1. to go around or avoid (a city, obstruction, problem, etc)
2. to cause (traffic, fluid, etc) to go through a bypass
3. to proceed without reference to (regulations, a superior, etc); get round; avoid

bypass

/ bī′păs′ /

1. A passage created surgically to divert the flow of blood or other bodily fluid or to circumvent an obstructed or diseased organ.

Other Words From

• bypasser by-passer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bypass¹

1840–50; apparently back formation from by-passage; by (adj.), passage ¹

Example Sentences

"So instead of performing all the capture and conversion steps independently, we can combine it in a single step, bypassing wasteful energy processes."

From Science Daily

The review examined "exception" appointments, whereby the normal civil service recruitment rules are bypassed.

From BBC

The ETH Zurich researchers analysed fat tissue biopsies from formerly overweight people who had undergone stomach reduction or gastric bypass surgery.

From Science Daily

During his first term, Trump bypassed Congress to divert Pentagon funds to expand the border wall by declaring a national emergency.

From Los Angeles Times

Cabinet positions are supposed to be confirmed by the Senate, though Trump has suggested that he may use recess appointments to bypass the need for lawmakers’ approval.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• circumvent
• ignore
• neglect
• omit
• sidestep
• skirt