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Meander vs Wander - What's the difference?

meander | wander |

In intransitive terms the difference between meander and wander

is that meander is to wind or turn in a course or passage; to be intricate while wander is of the mind, to lose focus or clarity of argument or attention.

meander

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Noun

(wikipedia meander) (en noun)
  • A winding, crooked, or involved course.
  • the meanders of an old river, or of the veins and arteries in the body
  • * Sir R. Blackmore
  • While lingering rivers in meanders glide.
  • A tortuous or intricate movement.
  • Fretwork.
  • (math) A self-avoiding closed curve which intersects a line a number of times.
  • Derived terms

    * meander belt * meanderer * meandering * meanderian * meanderic * meanderiform * meanderine * meander line * meander loop * meandrous * meandry

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wind or turn in a course or passage; to be intricate.
  • The stream meandered through the valley.
  • To wind, turn, or twist; to make flexuous.
  • (Dryton)

    References

    * The Chambers Dictionary (1998)

    Anagrams

    * *

    wander

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To move without purpose or specified destination; often in search of livelihood.
  • :
  • *(Bible), (w) xi.37:
  • *:They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins.
  • *
  • *:“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
  • *
  • *:There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors. Passengers wander restlessly about or hurry, with futile energy, from place to place.
  • (lb) To stray; stray from one's course; err.
  • :
  • *(Bible), (Psalms) cxix.10:
  • *:O, let me not wander from thy commandments.
  • (lb) To commit adultery.
  • (lb) To go somewhere indirectly or at varying speeds; to move in a curved path.
  • (lb) Of the mind, to lose focus or clarity of argument or attention.
  • Conjugation

    (en-conj-simple)

    Synonyms

    * (move without purpose) err, roam * (commit adultery) cheat * (go somewhere indirectly) * (lose focus) drift

    Derived terms

    * wander off * wanderer * wanderlust

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or instance of wandering.
  • To go for a wander

    Anagrams

    * * * ----