verb (used without object)
1.
to wander about without definite destination; move hither and thither at random, especially over a wide area.
verb (used with object)
2.
to wander over or through; traverse: to rove the woods.
noun
3.
an act or instance of roving.
Origin:
1490–1500; orig., to shoot at a random target; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse rāfa to stray; but compare also Old French raver to roam
1490–1500; orig., to shoot at a random target; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse rāfa to stray; but compare also Old French raver to roam
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb
a simple past tense and past participle of reeve2.
00:10
Rove
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
verb (used with object)
1.
to form (slivers of wool, cotton, etc.) into slightly twisted strands in a preparatory process of spinning.
2.
to draw fibers or the like through an eye or other small opening.
3.
to attenuate, compress, and twist slightly in carding.
noun
4.
Origin:
1780–90; of obscure origin
1780–90; of obscure origin
verb (used with object), rove or reeved, ro·ven or reeved, reev·ing. Nautical.
1.
to pass (a rope or the like) through a hole, ring, or the like.
2.
to fasten by placing through or around something.
3.
to pass a rope through (the swallow of a block).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To rove
Collins
World English Dictionary
reeve1 (riːv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | English history Compare sheriff the local representative of the king in a shire (under the ealdorman) until the early 11th century |
| 2. | (in medieval England) a manorial steward who supervised the daily affairs of the manor: often a villein elected by his fellows |
| 3. | canadian government (in certain provinces) a president of a local council, esp in a rural area |
| 4. | (formerly) a minor local official in any of several parts of England and the US |
| [Old English gerēva; related to Old High German ruova number, array] | |
| reeve2 (riːv) | |
| —vb , reeves, reeving, reeved, rove | |
| 1. | to pass (a rope or cable) through an eye or other narrow opening |
| 2. | to fasten by passing through or around something |
| [C17: perhaps from Dutch rēven | |
| reeve3 (riːv) | |
| —n | |
| the female of the ruff (the bird) | |
| [C17: of uncertain origin] | |
| rove1 (rəʊv) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to wander about (a place) with no fixed direction; roam |
| 2. | (intr) (of the eyes) to look around; wander |
| 3. | have a roving eye to show a widespread amorous interest in the opposite sex |
| 4. | (intr) Australian rules football to play as a rover |
| —n | |
| 5. | the act of roving |
| [C15 roven (in archery) to shoot at a target chosen at random (C16: to wander, stray), from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic rāfa to wander] | |
| rove2 (rəʊv) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (tr) to pull out and twist (fibres of wool, cotton, etc) lightly, as before spinning or in carding |
| —n | |
| 2. | wool, cotton, etc, thus prepared |
| [C18: of obscure origin] | |
| rove3 (rəʊv) | |
| —n | |
| a metal plate through which a rivet is passed and then clenched over | |
| [C15: from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic ro] | |
| rove4 (rəʊv) | |
| —vb | |
| a past tense and past participle of reeve | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
reeve
"steward," O.E. gerefa, of unknown origin and with no known cognates. Not connected to Ger. Graf (see margrave). An Anglo-Saxon official of high rank, having local jurisdiction under a king. Cf. sheriff.
rove
"to wander with no fixed destination," 1536, possibly a Midlands dialectal variant of northern Eng. and Scottish rave "to wander, stray," from M.E. raven, probably from O.N. rafa "to wander, rove." Infl. by rover (q.v.). Earliest sense was "to shoot arrows at a mark selected at pleasure or at random"
(1474).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Rove's house is done in soft silks and elegant colors, seafoam and other pale-green shades.
Rangers and volunteers rove the trails to help you explore and respond to your questions.
Their voices rove all over the place, not always prettily, but you have to admire the flexibility of their instruments.
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