Definition

1. Noun:

   • An aimless, leisurely walk or journey following a winding, indirect path: A "meander" can describe the act of wandering without a specific destination, often along a curving route.
   • A bend, loop, or curve in the course of a river or stream: In geography, a "meander" is a pronounced, sinuous curve in a waterway.

2. Verb:

   • To follow a winding, turning, or indirect course: The primary meaning is to move, flow, or proceed in a serpentine or spiral path, lacking a straight line.
   • To wander aimlessly or casually: It can also describe moving without a clear purpose or direction.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We went for a meander along the beach, picking up shells. (We went for an aimless walk along the beach.)
  • The river's meander creates a beautiful oxbow lake. (The river's bend creates a beautiful oxbow lake.)

• Verb:

  • The stream meanders slowly through the meadow. (The stream follows a winding course through the meadow.)
  • We spent the afternoon meandering through the old town's narrow streets. (We spent the afternoon wandering aimlessly through the old town's streets.)

Advanced Usage

• "to meander on/about": to speak or write at length in a rambling, unfocused way.

  • The lecturer meandered on for an hour without reaching a clear conclusion. (The lecturer spoke in a rambling way for an hour.)

• "meandering" (adjective): describing something that follows a winding course or is long and digressive.

  • We followed a meandering path up the hill. (We followed a winding path.)
  • His meandering explanation confused everyone. (His long, digressive explanation confused everyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Meander (n/v): The base word itself.
• Meandering (adj/n): The present participle used as an adjective or a noun meaning the act of winding.
  • The meandering of the river has changed over centuries. (The winding course of the river has changed.)
• Meandrous (adj): Characterized by meanders; winding (less common).
  • The meandrous trail was difficult to follow. (The winding trail was difficult to follow.)

Synonyms

• Wander: To move about without a fixed course.
• Wind: To have a curving or spiral course.
• Ramble: To walk for pleasure, often in the countryside; to talk or write at length in a confused way.
• Serpentine: Resembling a serpent in form; winding and turning.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Meander through: To wander or proceed in a winding way through a place or topic.
  • She meandered through her memories, telling stories from her childhood. (She wandered through her memories in a rambling way.)

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms use "meander" as a core component. However, the concept is often expressed in phrases like "twist and turn" or "follow a serpentine path."

Noun

1. an aimless amble on a winding course
2. a bend or curve, as in a stream or river

Verb

1. to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
   • the river winds through the hills
   • the path meanders through the vineyards
   • sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body