I. wan ‧ der 1 S3 /ˈwɒndə $ ˈwɑːndər/ BrE AmE verb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: wandrian ]
1 . WITHOUT DIRECTION [intransitive and transitive] to walk slowly across or around an area, usually without a clear direction or purpose
wander in/through/around etc
I’ll wander around the mall for half an hour.
She wandered aimlessly about the house.
Ana wandered off to get a drink.
He was found wandering the streets of New York.
2 . MOVE AWAY [intransitive] ( also wander off ) to walk away from where you are supposed to stay:
Don’t let any of the kids wander off.
3 . MIND/THOUGHTS [intransitive] if your mind, thoughts etc wander, you no longer pay attention to something, especially because you are bored or worried:
Mrs Snell’s mind wandered and the voices went on and on.
4 . CONVERSATION [intransitive] to start to talk about something not related to the main subject that you were talking about before
wander from/off
Pauline started to wander from the point.
5 . sb’s mind is wandering used to say that someone has become unable to think clearly, especially because they are old
6 . EYES [intransitive] if your eyes or your ↑ gaze wander, you look around slowly at different things or at all parts of something:
His gaze wandered round the room.
7 . ROAD/RIVER [intransitive] if a road or a river wanders somewhere, it does not go straight but in curves SYN meander
wander through/across/along
The Missouri River wanders across several states.
8 . HANDS [intransitive] if a man’s hands wander, he touches the body of a woman he is with, especially where she does not want him to:
Be careful, he’s got wandering hands.
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THESAURUS
▪ walk to move forward by putting one foot in front of the other:
I missed the bus so I decided to walk.
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We’ve walked about eight miles today.
▪ wander to walk without any clear purpose or direction:
They wandered around the narrow streets of the old city.
▪ stride to walk with long steps in a determined, confident, or angry way:
A man in a suit came striding purposefully into the hall.
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She strode onto the stage and began to address the audience.
▪ pace to walk first in one direction and then in another many times, especially because you are nervous:
Nick was pacing up and down, waiting for the phone to ring.
▪ march to walk quickly with firm regular steps – used especially about soldiers or someone who is angry:
The troops marched past with smart uniform and good discipline.
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Sheila marched into the office and demanded an apology.
▪ wade to walk through deep water:
We had to wade across the river.
▪ stomp to walk putting your feet down very hard, especially because you are angry:
She turned and stomped off without looking back.
II. wander 2 BrE AmE noun [singular] British English
a short relaxed walk SYN stroll
take/go for/have a wander
I had a bit of a wander round the shops.
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THESAURUS
▪ walk noun [countable] a journey that you make on foot, especially for exercise or enjoyment:
I took the dog out for a long walk in the fresh air.
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We went for some lovely walks.
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Do you fancy going out for a walk?
▪ hike noun [countable] a long walk in the mountains or countryside:
We went for a hike in the woods.
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There are some good hikes nearby.
▪ stroll noun [singular] a slow, relaxed walk:
Let’s take a stroll in the park.
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We went for a stroll along the river.
▪ wander British English a short relaxed walk, especially to look around a place:
We had a wander round the town and then went to the beach.
▪ trek noun [singular] used when talking about a long walk in the mountains, countryside etc which lasts for several days and which you do for pleasure. Also used about a long tiring walk somewhere, which you do not want to have to do :
They went on a three week trek in the Atlas Mountains.
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We then had a long trek back to our hotel with all our luggage.
▪ slog [singular] a long, tiring, and unpleasant walk, which continues for several hours:
It was a dreary slog over bleak and windswept hills.
▪ march noun [countable] an occasion when a group of people walk somewhere together, in order to protest about something:
Demonstrators are planning a march through the capital.
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a peace march