Plain English Meaning
A way of turning the aircraft around to fly back the way it came. The pilot first flies outbound on a line that's slightly off from the return course, then makes a single turn back, rolling out aimed at the inbound course.
Full Definition
A course reversal maneuver in which the aircraft departs the fix on an outbound track that diverges from the inbound course by a set angle (typically 30° or 45°), flies that track for a specified distance or time, then turns in the opposite direction to intercept the inbound course. The flight path traced on a chart resembles a teardrop shape.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach procedures when the aircraft must reverse direction before continuing inbound on the .