meander

¹

[mee-an-der]

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.

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

[mee-an-der]

noun

1. ancient name of the Menderes.

Meander

¹

/ miːˈændə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of Maeander

meander

²

/ mɪˈændə /

verb

1. to follow a winding course

2. to wander without definite aim or direction

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

1. A sinuous curve, bend, or loop along the course of a stream or river.

Other Word Forms

• meanderingly adverb
• meandering adjective
• meandrous adjective
• meanderer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Meander¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Meander¹

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

Example Sentences

Or, in Biermann’s case, they won’t fight much, but will do something just as fun: meander around looking at fabric for a streetwear line that doesn’t exist, and say, “Oooooh, we should totally have something like that in our line!”

From Salon

Over the green hills, we meander beyond Happy Valley to find Repulse Bay.

From Salon

Yet it was during this meander that his writing made a steep drop into seeing, feeling, connecting, plunging toward transcendence.

From Los Angeles Times

“The way she flows and wanders and her melodies meander — I was massively inspired by that when ‘CTRL’ came out,” Young says of SZA’s 2017 LP.

From Los Angeles Times

Guiraudie avoids urgency at all costs, letting his characters meander through the woods and have entire conversations that have nothing to do with Jérémie’s sexuality at all.

From Salon

Related Words

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