rambling
[ ram-bling ]
/ ˈræm blɪŋ /
adjective
aimlessly wandering.
taking an irregular course; straggling: a rambling brook.
spread out irregularly in various directions: a rambling mansion.
straying from one subject to another; desultory: a rambling novel.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
rambert, dame marie, rambla, ramble, ramble on, rambler, rambling, ramblingly, rambo, ramboesque, rambouillet, rambunctious
Related forms
ram·bling·ly, adverbram·bling·ness, nounun·ram·bling, adjectiveDefinition for rambling (2 of 2)
ramble
[ ram-buhl ]
/ ˈræm bəl /
verb (used without object), ram·bled, ram·bling.
to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner: They rambled through the shops until closing time.
to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.
to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion: The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.
to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually followed by on): The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.
verb (used with object), ram·bled, ram·bling.
to walk aimlessly or idly over or through: They spent the spring afternoon rambling woodland paths.
noun
a walk without a definite route, taken merely for pleasure.
Origin of ramble
First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for rambling
British Dictionary definitions for rambling (1 of 2)
rambling
/ (ˈræmblɪŋ) /
adjective
straggling or sprawling haphazardly; unplanneda rambling old house
(of speech or writing) lacking a coherent plan; diffuse and disconnected
(of a plant, esp a rose) profusely climbing and straggling
nomadic; wandering
British Dictionary definitions for rambling (2 of 2)
ramble
/ (ˈræmbəl) /
verb (intr)
to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction
(of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander
(of plants) to grow in a random fashion
(of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization
noun
a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside
Word Origin for ramble
C17: probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen to roam (of animals); see ram
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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