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definitions

meander

[ mee-an-der ]
/ miˈæn dər /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR meander ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley.
to wander aimlessly; ramble: The talk meandered on.

verb (used with object)

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

noun

Usually meanders. turnings or windings; a winding path or course.
a circuitous movement or journey.
an intricate variety of fret or fretwork.

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RELATED WORDS

roaming, wandering, circular, nomadic

Nearby words

  1. mean to,
  2. mean value,
  3. mean value theorem,
  4. mean-spirited,
  5. mean-tone tuning,
  6. meander line,
  7. meandering stream,
  8. meandrous,
  9. meanie,
  10. meaning

Origin of meander

1570–80; < Latin maeander < Greek maíandros a winding, special use of Maíandros, the Menderes River, noted for its winding course
Related formsme·an·der·er, nounme·an·der·ing·ly, adverbun·me·an·der·ing, adjectiveun·me·an·der·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for meandering

British Dictionary definitions for meandering

meander

/ (mɪˈændə) /

verb (intr)

to follow a winding course
to wander without definite aim or direction

noun

(often plural) a curve or bend, as in a river
(often plural) a winding course or movement
an ornamental pattern, esp as used in ancient Greek architecture
Derived Formsmeanderer, nounmeandering, adjectivemeanderingly, adverbmeandrous, adjective

Word Origin for meander

C16: from Latin maeander, from Greek Maiandros the River Maeander; see Menderes (sense 1)

Meander

/ (miːˈændə) /

noun

a variant spelling of Maeander
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
Science definitions for meandering

meander

[ mē-ăn′dər ]

A sinuous curve, bend, or loop along the course of a stream or river.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.