meander

[ mee-an-der ]
See synonyms for meander on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley.

  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.

  1. an intricate variety of fret or fretwork.

Origin of meander

1
1570–80; <Latin maeander<Greek maíandros a winding, special use of Maíandros, the Menderes River, noted for its winding course

Other words for meander

Other words from meander

  • me·an·der·er, noun

Other definitions for Meander (2 of 2)

Meander
[ mee-an-der ]

noun
  1. ancient name of the Menderes (def. 2).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use meander in a sentence

  • But the bands may be curved instead of angular, forming scrolls, meanders, or spirals.

  • The course of a little rivulet, which meanders through it in summer, was apparent, even though covered with snow.

    Hudson Bay | R.M. Ballantyne
  • From north to south the river meanders, now lazily, now with a rush of leaping waters.

    The Road of a Thousand Wonders | Passenger Dept. Southern Pacific Co

British Dictionary definitions for meander (1 of 2)

meander

/ (mɪˈændə) /


verb(intr)
  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

  1. an ornamental pattern, esp as used in ancient Greek architecture

Origin of meander

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

Derived forms of meander

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

British Dictionary definitions for Meander (2 of 2)

Meander

/ (miːˈændə) /


noun
  1. 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

Scientific definitions for meander

meander

[ mē-ăndər ]


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

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.