meander

UK: miˈændə | US: miˈændər

Definition

  1. n. 1. A winding or circuitous path, especially a river’s bend.

  2. v. 2. To follow a winding course; to wander aimlessly.

Structure
meander <winding path>
Etymology

The word "meander" traces back to the Greek Maiandros, the ancient name of the Büyük Menderes River in Turkey, notorious for its serpentine bends. Latin adopted it as maeander, and by the 1570s, English generalized it to describe any winding path or aimless movement. The river’s physical shape became the metaphor for indirect progress.

Examples

  1. The stream began to meander through the valley.

  2. His speech meandered without reaching a clear point.

  3. We followed the meander of the old forest trail.

  4. The artist captured the river’s meander in her painting.

  5. Lost in thought, she meandered through the city streets.