Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense meanders, present participle meandering, past tense, past participle meandered
1. verb
If a river or road meanders, it has a lot of bends, rather than going in a straight line from one place to another.
...roads that meandered round the edges of the fields. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A rural single railway track meanders through the valley. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The small river meandered in lazy curves down the centre.
We crossed a small iron bridge over a meandering stream. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: wind, turn, snake, zigzag More Synonyms of meander
2. countable noun
A meander is a large bend in a river.
3. verb
If you meander somewhere, you move slowly and not in a straight line.
We meandered through a landscape of mountains, rivers, and vineyards. [VERB preposition/adverb]
It's so restful to meander along Irish country roads. [VERB preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB]
4. verb
If a speech, account, or piece of writing meanders, it seems to move from one topic to another without any order or purpose.
His talk appears to meander but by the end focuses attention on the true state ofaffairs. [VERB]
...a rich and meandering novel. [VERB-ing]
More Synonyms of meander
meander in British English
(mɪˈændə)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to follow a winding course
2.
to wander without definite aim or direction
noun
3. (often plural)
a curve or bend, as in a river
4. (often plural)
a winding course or movement
5.
an ornamental pattern, esp as used in ancient Greek architecture
Derived forms
meanderer (meˈanderer)
noun
meandering (meˈandering)
adjective
meanderingly (meˈanderingly)
adverb
meandrous (meˈandrous)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin maeander, from Greek Maiandros the River Maeander; see Menderes (sense 1)
Meander in British English
(miːˈændə)
noun
a variant spelling of Maeander
Meander in American English
(miˈændər)
alt. sp. of
Maeander
meander in American English
(miˈændər)
noun
1. [pl.]
windings or convolutions, as of a stream
2.
an ornamental pattern of winding or crisscrossing lines
3.
an aimless wandering; rambling
verb intransitive
4.
to take a winding or tortuous course
said of a stream
5.
to wander aimlessly or idly; ramble
Derived forms
meandrous (meˈandrous) (miˈændrəs)
adjective
Word origin
L maeander < Gr maiandros < Maiandros, the Maeander (noted for its winding course)
Examples of 'meander' in a sentence
meander
The eurozone will continue meandering along.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is easy to lose more than a few centuries meandering around this warren.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Homes near meandering rivers or winding roads bring good luck.
The Sun (2009)
The ethereal orchestral opening gives way to a meandering cello line that takes time to find its direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Wonderful landscapes but a meandering story.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In all, a meandering film that could easily have been made more rigorous.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Our itinerary followed a route south along the full meandering length of Vietnam.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Holly the labrador meanders around, taking her habitual place on one of the sofas.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But after the initial rush, the film begins to meander.
The Sun (2015)
But he quickly went back into his shell, meandering around aimlessly in midfield.
The Sun (2014)
But as you meander around this selection, a very clear aesthetic begins to emerge.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Because he just wants to meander around on his own and see what we've all done.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
See meander and river 's course.
Jilbert, John Geography Basic Facts (1983)
A small river meanders across the plain; the sound of cattle bells drifts up.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A river meanders between apple orchards, fields and pretty villages.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His film begins to meander, but that's actually okay.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This is a weak basis for what is a long and meandering film, so it is just as well that there are lots of funny scenes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The Moon transforms a relationship that's been meandering along into one that moves faster and is full of shared plans.
The Sun (2014)
More than is good for it, the film 's meandering tale has the feel of something concocted on the spur of the moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
meander
architectural features
In other languages
meander
British English: meander VERB
If a river or road meanders, it has a lot of bends, rather than going in a straight line from one place to another.
...roads that meandered round the edges of the fields.
American English: meander
Brazilian Portuguese: serpentear
Chinese: 蜿蜒
European Spanish: serpentear
French: serpenter
German: sich schlängeln
Italian: snodarsi
Japanese: 曲がりくねっている
Korean: 구불구불대다
European Portuguese: serpentear
Latin American Spanish: serpentear
1 (verb)
Definition
(of a river, road, etc.) to follow a winding course
The river meandered in lazy curves.
Synonyms
wind
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
turn
the corner where our street turns into the main road
snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
zigzag
2 (verb)
Definition
to wander without definite aim or direction
We meandered along the Irish country roads.
Synonyms
wander
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
stroll
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
stray
She could not keep her eyes from straying towards him.
drift
People drifted around the room.
ramble
freedom to ramble across the moors
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
3 (verb)
She meandered on, stopping now and again for a breath.
Synonyms
ramble
Sometimes she tended to ramble.
rabbit (British, informal)
rattle
chatter
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
waffle (British, informal)
some guy on TV waffling on about some new product
witter (British, informal)
She witters on about unimportant things.
prattle
She prattled on until I wanted to scream.
natter (British, informal)
The pair would natter on the phone for hours.
maunder
blether
prate (rare)
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
1 (noun)
a meander round the shops
Synonyms
wander
Let's go for a wander round the shops.
stroll
amble
saunter
She began a slow saunter towards the bonfire.
mosey (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a curve or bend, as in a river
The outer bank of a meander in the river.
Synonyms
curve
a curve in the road
bend
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
turn
You can't do a right-hand turn here.
twist
the twists and turns of the existing track
loop
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
coil
Tess slung the coil of rope over her shoulder.
zigzag
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bend
Definition
a curved part
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
Synonyms
curve,
turn,
corner,
hook,
twist,
angle,
bow,
loop,
arc,
zigzag,
camber
in the sense of chatter
Definition
to speak quickly and continuously about unimportant things
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
Synonyms
prattle,
chat,
rabbit on (British, informal),
babble,
gab (informal),
natter,
tattle,
jabber,
blather,
schmooze (slang),
blether (Scottish),
run off at the mouth (US, slang),
prate,
gossip
in the sense of coil
Definition
a single loop of such a series
Tess slung the coil of rope over her shoulder.
Synonyms
loop,
twist,
curl,
spiral,
twirl
Nearby words of
meander
mealy-mouthed
mean
mean business
meander
meandering
meaning
meaningful
Synonyms of 'meander'
meander
Explore 'meander' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drift
Definition
to move aimlessly from one place or activity to another
People drifted around the room.
Synonyms
wander,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
meander,
rove,
range,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of loop
Definition
any round or oval-shaped thing that is closed or nearly closed
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
Synonyms
curve,
ring,
circle,
bend,
twist,
curl,
spiral,
hoop,
coil,
loophole,
twirl,
kink,
noose,
whorl,
eyelet,
convolution
in the sense of maunder
Definition
to move, talk, or act aimlessly or idly
Synonyms
chatter,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
ramble,
babble,
waffle (informal, British),
witter (informal),
prattle,
gabble,
rattle on,
blather,
blether
in the sense of natter
Definition
to talk idly and at length
The pair would natter on the phone for hours.
Synonyms
gossip,
talk,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
jaw (slang),
chatter,
witter (informal),
prattle,
jabber,
gabble,
palaver,
blather,
blether,
shoot the breeze (informal),
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate,
talk idly,
chew the fat or rag (slang),
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of prattle
Definition
to chatter in a foolish or childish way
She prattled on until I wanted to scream.
Synonyms
chatter,
babble,
waffle (informal, British),
run on,
rabbit on (British, informal),
witter on (informal),
patter,
drivel,
clack,
twitter,
jabber,
gabble,
rattle on,
blather,
blether,
run off at the mouth (slang),
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of saunter
Definition
a leisurely pace or stroll
She began a slow saunter towards the bonfire.
Synonyms
stroll,
walk,
amble,
turn,
airing,
constitutional,
ramble,
promenade,
breather,
perambulation
in the sense of snake
Definition
to glide or move in a winding course, like a snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
Synonyms
wind,
twist,
curve,
turn,
bend,
ramble,
meander,
deviate,
zigzag
in the sense of stray
Definition
to wander away from the correct path or from a given area
She could not keep her eyes from straying towards him.
Synonyms
drift,
wander,
roam,
meander,
rove,
stra
in the sense of stroll
Definition
to walk about in a leisurely manner
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
Synonyms
walk,
ramble,
amble,
wander,
promenade,
saunter,
stooge (slang),
take a turn,
toddle,
make your way,
mooch (slang),
mosey (informal),
stretch your legs
in the sense of turn
Definition
(of a road, river, etc.) to have a bend or curve in it
the corner where our street turns into the main road
Synonyms
bend,
curve,
meander,
wind,
twist,
snake,
loop,
zigzag
Additional synonyms
in the sense of turn
Definition
a change of direction or position
You can't do a right-hand turn here.
Synonyms
change of direction,
bend,
curve,
change of course,
shift,
departure,
deviation
in the sense of twist
Definition
a bend
the twists and turns of the existing track
Synonyms
curve,
turn,
bend,
loop,
arc,
meander,
kink,
zigzag,
convolution,
dog-leg,
undulation
in the sense of waffle
Definition
to speak or write in a vague and wordy manner
some guy on TV waffling on about some new product
Synonyms
chatter,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
babble,
drivel,
prattle,
jabber,
gabble,
rattle on,
verbalize,
blather,
witter on (informal),
blether,
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate,
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of witter
Definition
to chatter or babble pointlessly or at unnecessary length