meander

¹ American  

[mee-an-der] / miˈæn dər /

verb (used without object)

1. to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course.

   The stream meandered through the valley.

   Synonyms:

   coil, snake, twist, wind, wander

2. to wander aimlessly; ramble.

   The talk meandered on.

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verb (used with object)

1. Surveying. to define the margin of (a body of water) with a meander line.

noun

1. Usually meanders. turnings or windings; a winding path or course.

2. a circuitous movement or journey.

3. an intricate variety of fret or fretwork.

Meander ² American  

[mee-an-der] / miˈæn dər /

noun

1. ancient name of the Menderes.

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meander ¹ British  

/ mɪˈændə /

verb

1. to follow a winding course

2. to wander without definite aim or direction

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noun

1. (often plural) a curve or bend, as in a river

2. (often plural) a winding course or movement

3. an ornamental pattern, esp as used in ancient Greek architecture

Meander ² British  

/ miːˈændə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of Maeander

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meander Scientific  

/ mē-ăn′dər /

1. A sinuous curve, bend, or loop along the course of a stream or river.

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Other Word Forms

• meanderer noun
• meandering adjective
• meanderingly adverb
• meandrous adjective

Etymology

Origin of meander

1570–80; < Latin maeander < Greek maíandros a winding, special use of Maíandros, the Menderes River, noted for its winding course

Example Sentences

The property features three creeks that “meander through the ranch for over five miles,” as well as irrigated meadows and “historic water rights irrigating 1,200 acres.”

From MarketWatch

Carolers meandered through town, drawing no more than a dozen onlookers as they sang “Angels We Have Heard on High” and asked shop owners whether holiday crowds might return.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Jewish museum could offer far more insight, including into Hanukkah’s origins, which may be relevant to the museum’s own meandering conceptual history, with its tensions between cultural assimilation and religious identity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The clank of this supposed breakthrough idea is as inelegant as the meandering storytelling.

From The Wall Street Journal

Inside and out, Gehry orchestrates a meandering gallery of paths and multistory overlooks that frame both art and landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drift
• ramble
• roam
• snake
• stray
• stroll
• traipse