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maunder

verb
maun·​der | \ ˈmȯn-dÉ™r How to pronounce maunder (audio) , ˈmän-\
maundered; maundering\ ˈmȯn-​d(É™-​)riÅ‹ How to pronounce maundering (audio) , ˈmän-​ \

Definition of maunder

intransitive verb

1 chiefly British : grumble
2 : to wander slowly and idly
3 : to speak indistinctly or disconnectedly
Other Words from maunder Synonyms Wander Towards Maunder Example Sentences Learn More about maunder

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Other Words from maunder

maunderer \ ˈmȯn-​dÉ™r-​É™r How to pronounce maunderer (audio) , ˈmän-​ \ noun

Wander Towards Maunder

Maunder looks a lot like meander, and that's not all the two words have in common-both mean "to wander aimlessly," either physically or in speech. Some critics have suggested that while meander can describe a person's verbal and physical rambling, in addition to the wanderings of things like paths and streams, maunder should be limited to wandering words. The problem with that reasoning is that maunder has been used of the physical movements of people since at least 1775, whereas meander didn't acquire that use until around 1831. These days, meander tends to be the more common choice, although maunder does continue to turn up in both applications.

Examples of maunder in a Sentence

maundered all over town on his day off ask her a question and she'll maunder for half an hour

Recent Examples on the Web

 Hughes ran efficient and productive meetings, with a low tolerance for maundering or side conversation, but he was given pause by the gravity of the occasion. — Gideon Lewis-kraus, New York Times, "The Great A.I. Awakening," 14 Dec. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maunder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of maunder

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for maunder

probably imitative

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More Definitions for maunder

maunder

verb
How to pronounce maunder (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of maunder

British : to talk for a long time in a boring way

See the full definition for maunder in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on maunder

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with maunder

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for maunder

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