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.

Content related to meander

Were P And R Once The Same Letter?Do you ever stop and look at the shape of our alphabet? Each letter looks natural to us now, but all those lines and circles have unique histories. It’s easy to make assumptions that our letters make sense, that they developed in some orderly logical way, and one reasonable assumption would be that P and R are related to each other based on their form. …

Words related to meander

roaming, wandering, circular, nomadic

Words nearby meander

mean time, mean to, mean value, mean value theorem, mean-tone tuning, meander, meander line, meandering stream, meandrous, meanie, meaning

Origin of meander

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

SYNONYMS FOR meander

1 wander, wind, twist, snake, coil.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR meander ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM meander

me·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

Though conversational and often witty, his meandering phrases become increasingly unpredictable as they develop.
The Lost Novel of Nobel-Winner José Saramago|Charles Shafaieh|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He was obsessed with detail and had a slow, meandering style.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We watched her float about, a meandering frown, for two whole hours in the season premiere as she mourned the death of Matthew.
‘Downton Abbey’ Finale Review: The Depressing Demise of a Once-Great Show|Kevin Fallon|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that makes for a meandering, challenging, non-escapist viewing.
Why Watching ‘Teen Mom 2’s Disturbing Abortion Is So Challenging|Sujay Kumar|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Netanyahu's meandering and uninspired drivel left many confused but I will attempt to summarize it.
Netanyahu’s Iran Soliloquy at the U.N.|Maysoon Zayid|October 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Minarets of mosques stood up like giant lamp-posts along these vast, meandering streets.
Donovan Pasha And Some People Of Egypt, Complete|Gilbert Parker
This was but meandering while waiting for ideas, and evoked another yell.
Penrod|Booth Tarkington
Many a meandering discourse one hears, in which the preacher aims at nothing, and—hits it.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
A meandering little brook criss-crossed the gravel path under Lee's feet.
The Brain|Alexander Blade
Meandering along by its mighty brother, unseen on the other side, there is another river, running at a lower level.
Forty Thousand Miles Over Land and Water|Lady (Ethel Gwendoline [Moffatt]) Vincent

British Dictionary definitions for meandering (1 of 2)

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 forms of meander

meanderer, nounmeandering, adjectivemeanderingly, adverbmeandrous, adjective

Word Origin for meander

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

British Dictionary definitions for meandering (2 of 2)

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.