meander
/miˈændə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /miˈændər/ (ame, ipa) · /mē-ˈan-dər/ (ame, mw) · /miˈæn.dər/ (bre, ipa) · /miˈæn.dɚ/ (ame, ipa)
meander — verb
- meanderpresent simple I / you / we / they
- meandershe / she / it
- meanderedpast simple
- meandering-ing form
1. to curve and twist through the land instead of running straight — most often sai
to curve and twist through the land instead of running straight — most often said of a river, stream, or road that bends repeatedly
A narrow road meanders up the hillside past several olive farms.
meander + up + hillside — describes a winding road
The river meanders through the wide valley, curving around old oak trees.
A small stream meanders behind Haruto's house before joining the main river.
The old railway line meanders across the countryside, now used only by cyclists.
From the tower, we could see the highway meander along the rocky coast.
- run straight
describes a direct, unbending path from one point to another
文法句型
meander + through/across/along/up + place
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a watercourse (river, stream, creek) or a road. The verb describes the physical shape of the route, not the movement of a person. Distinguish from sense 2 (WALK AIMLESSLY): a road meanders, but a person walking meanders in sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. to walk slowly with no set route, turning this way and that without a destinatio
to walk slowly with no set route, turning this way and that without a destination in mind — often for enjoyment or relaxation
Yuna meandered through the weekend market, stopping to look at handmade pottery.
meander through + marketplace — slow, aimless browsing
Diego spent the afternoon meandering around the old port with no particular plan.
meander around + place — spending time with no fixed direction
Ruth and her grandson meandered home from the park, in no hurry at all.
We meandered along the beach for an hour, collecting shells and smooth stones.
Kwame meandered into the bookshop and found himself there until closing time.
文法句型
meander + around/through/along + place
用法筆記
Implies a pleasant, unhurried walk — not a nervous pace or an urgent search. The focus is on the enjoyable lack of direction. Distinguish from sense 1 (WINDING PATH): sense 1 describes the shape of a route; sense 2 describes how a person moves through a space.
常見錯誤
3. to drift from one topic or task to another without following a clear plan — used
to drift from one topic or task to another without following a clear plan — used of conversations, writing, meetings, or thought processes that lose focus
The professor's lecture meandered from physics to cooking, and everyone looked confused.
meander from X to Y — digressing between unrelated topics
Nadia's essay meandered so much that her main argument was hard to follow.
The committee meeting meandered for two hours without reaching a single decision.
Farid tried to focus, but his thoughts meandered back to the argument from breakfast.
The film meanders in the middle, losing the tension it built in the first half.
- stay on track
remain focused and proceed in an organised way
文法句型
subject meanders
meander + from X to Y
用法筆記
Subject is rarely a person acting deliberately — more often a conversation, speech, story, meeting, or train of thought. Distinguish from sense 2 (WALK AIMLESSLY): you meander physically in sense 2; your words, thoughts, or a meeting meander in sense 3.
常見錯誤
meander — noun
- meandersingular
- meandersplural
1. a place where a river bends in a wide curve, often shaped like a loop, as the wa
a place where a river bends in a wide curve, often shaped like a loop, as the water turns back almost on itself
The kayak disappeared around the next meander, and we lost sight of it.
From the hilltop, we could count seven meanders of the river below.
countable: seven meanders — the noun can be plural
A heron stood perfectly still at the edge of a shallow meander.
The town was built on a wide meander where boats could dock safely.
An oxbow lake forms when a river cuts through the neck of a tight meander.
- straight
a straight section of a river or road with no bend
文法句型
a meander of the river
around the next meander
用法筆記
Countable noun used especially in geography and descriptions of rivers. Often preceded by adjectives like 'wide', 'sharp', 'shallow', or 'tight'. Distinguish from sense 2 (CASUAL WANDER): sense 1 is a physical bend in a watercourse; sense 2 is a walk without direction.
2. a slow walk or short trip without a set route, taken just for the pleasure of mo
a slow walk or short trip without a set route, taken just for the pleasure of moving through a place
Henrik's Sunday meander through the neighbourhood ended at a small café.
possessive + meander through + place — a personal, undirected walk
Their afternoon meander took them past vineyards and fields of lavender.
Anja enjoys a slow meander around the botanical gardens after lunch.
What started as a quick meander became a three-hour walk through the old town.
Clive took a quiet meander along the canal path, watching the narrow boats.
文法句型
a meander through/around + place
用法筆記
Almost always singular. Typically preceded by a possessive (my, his, her, their) or an adjective (quiet, slow, afternoon, Sunday). Distinguish from sense 1 (RIVER BEND): sense 1 refers to a geographical feature; sense 2 is a journey.