perambulate

[ per-am-byuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·am·bu·lat·ed, per·am·bu·lat·ing.

1. to walk through, about, or over; travel through; traverse.
2. to traverse in order to examine or inspect.

verb (used without object)

, per·am·bu·lat·ed, per·am·bu·lat·ing.

1. to walk or travel about; stroll.

   Synonyms: ramble, meander, mosey, amble, promenade, saunter

perambulate

/ -trɪ; pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt; pəˈræmbjʊlətərɪ /

verb

1. to walk about (a place)
2. tr to walk round in order to inspect

Derived Forms

• perˌambuˈlation, noun
• perambulatory, adjective

Other Words From

• per·ambu·lation noun
• per·am·bu·la·to·ry [per-, am, -by, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perambulate¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin perambulātus, past participle of perambulāre “to walk through”; per-, ambulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of perambulate¹

C16: from Latin perambulāre to traverse, from per through + ambulāre to walk

Example Sentences

The members sometimes "perambulate the village, headed by the band of the Mangotsfield detachment of the Bristol Rifles."

From Project Gutenberg

At the termination of the mass, troops of women perambulate the streets, during the remainder of the night.

From Project Gutenberg

Skeletons still perambulate among us, as in The Messenger, where the stripped-off mask shows a hideous skull.

From Project Gutenberg

In the centre of the grassy quadrangle about which the cloisters perambulate is a small, mean, brick building, with a locked door.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us perambulate the parish from the bottom of Digbeth, thirty yards north of the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg