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  

/ miːˈændə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of Maeander

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meander ² 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 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

He was a keen student of dialect; doing movies in the South, he meandered down backroads, learning just the right way to frame a question in rural Mississippi or deliver a compliment in west Texas.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a festival air on this public holiday as families marched and meandered in a warm winter's sun.

From BBC

Occasionally the wiggles get bigger and that can result in big curves in the flow - like a meandering river.

From BBC

He pictured the car going along the narrow, winding road that meandered from the campground through the woods.

From Literature

But a handful still survive — routes that don’t carve a straight line but follow the meandering, undulating contours of the land.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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