meander

Everyday

1. (of a river or road) To turn this way and that in slow curves instead of going straight. tree →
2. To walk or wander slowly without a clear aim. tree →
3. (of talk or a story) To go on slowly without a clear point. tree →
4. Noun: a bend or loop in a river. tree →

In the lessons

In geography a meander is a big loop in a river; over time, a meander can be cut off and make an oxbow lake. In everyday life you meander through a market. In writing lessons a story that meanders loses the reader.

Examples

• The river meanders across the flat valley. tree →
• We meandered through the market, looking at the stalls. tree →
• The geography class drew a meander and an oxbow lake. tree →
• The path meanders up the hill. tree →
• His story meandered and never got to the point. tree →
• The stream made a wide meander around the field. tree →

Note

Say mee-AN-der. Named after a winding river in Turkey. A meandering river is longer than the straight line between its ends — useful in distance problems.