v. & n.
v. 1 intr. (often foll. by in, off, etc.) go about from place to place aimlessly. 2 intr. a (of a person, river, road, etc.) wind about; diverge; meander. b (of esp. a person) get lost; leave home; stray from a path etc. 3 intr. talk or think incoherently; be inattentive or delirious. 4 tr. cover while wandering (wanders the world).
n. the act or an instance of wandering (went for a wander round the garden). wandering Jew 1 a a legendary person said to have been condemned by Christ to wander the earth until the second advent. b a person who never settles down. 2 a a climbing plant, Tradescantia albiflora, with stemless variegated leaves. b a trailing plant, Zebrina pendula, with pink flowers. wandering sailor the moneywort. wander-plug a plug that can be fitted into any of various sockets in an electrical device. wanderer n. wandering n. (esp. in pl.).
[ OE wandrian (as WEND) ]