ambulatory

[ am-byuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ ˈæm byə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ambulatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or capable of walking: an ambulatory exploration of the countryside.
adapted for walking, as the limbs of many animals.
moving about or from place to place; not stationary: an ambulatory tribe.
Also ambulant. Medicine/Medical.
  1. not confined to bed; able or strong enough to walk: an ambulatory patient.
  2. serving patients who are able to walk: an ambulatory care center.
Law. not fixed; alterable or revocable: ambulatory will.

noun, plural am·bu·la·to·ries.

Also called deambulatory. Architecture.
  1. an aisle surrounding the end of the choir or chancel of a church.
  2. the covered walk of a cloister.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ambulatory

1615–25; <Latin ambulātōrius, equivalent to ambulā-, stem of ambulāre (see amble) + -tōrius -tory1

OTHER WORDS FROM ambulatory

am·bu·la·to·ri·ly, adverbnon·am·bu·la·to·ry, adjective, noun, plural non·am·bu·la·to·ries.

Words nearby ambulatory

ambulance chaser, ambulance stocks, ambulant, ambulante, ambulate, ambulatory, ambulatory care, ambulatory surgery, ambulette, ambuscade, ambuscado
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ambulatory

vagabond, peripatetic, vagrant, roving, itinerant, nomadic, ambulant, perambulatory

Example sentences from the Web for ambulatory

British Dictionary definitions for ambulatory

ambulatory
/ (ˈæmbjʊlətərɪ) /

adjective

of, relating to, or designed for walking
changing position; not fixed
Also: ambulant able to walk
law (esp of a will) capable of being altered or revoked

noun plural -ries

architect
  1. an aisle running around the east end of a church, esp one that passes behind the sanctuary
  2. a place for walking, such as an aisle or a cloister
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for ambulatory

ambulatory
[ ăm′byə-lə-tôr′ē ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or adapted for walking.
Capable of walking; not bedridden.
Moving about.
Of or relating to medical care or services provided on an outpatient basis.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.