meander
/miˈæn.də(ɹ)/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.69 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
One of a series of regular sinuous curves, bends, loops, turns, or windings in the channel of a river, stream, or other watercourse
noun
Synonym of Greek key, a decorative border; fretwork.
noun
A self-avoiding closed curve which intersects a line a number of times.
noun
A path on which the directions, distances, and elevations are noted, as a part of a land survey.
Obsolete
noun
A decorative border consisting of a repeated linear motif, particularly of intersecting perpendicular lines.
Example Sentences
- "the meanders of an old river, or of the veins and arteries in the body"
- "See, how the streams advancing to the main, / Through crooked channels draw their crystal train! / While lingering thus they in meanders glide, / They scatter verdant life on either side."
- "That journey in the spring of 1891 tracked historical underpinnings of the edifice that Einstein built. Our story will be an extremely interesting mental meander to trace the evolution some of the aspects of relativity theory from the beginning."
- "The scales are conceived of as meander fretwork; but I do not know whether, for this reason, this fish is associated with thunder."
- "A chair rail adorned with Chinese fretwork molding was a specific meander that repeated throughout the home. Moldings shaped as cartouches lined each wall,[…]"
- "Markings on Meander Corners. On all meander corners, the letters “M. C.” ( for meander corner) will be cut into the side facing the stream or lake to be meandered. On post or tree meander corners, within township exteriors[…]"
Etymology
From Latin Maeander, from Ancient Greek Μαίανδρος (Maíandros) – a river in Asia Minor (present day Turkey) known for its winding course (modern Turkish Menderes).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Maeander, Μαίανδρος
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /miˈæn.də(ɹ)/
- British English: /miˈæn.də(ɹ)/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
meanderer
meanderian
meanderic
meanderiform
meanderine
meandering
meandersome
meanderthal
meandery
meandric
meandrous
meandry