straggle
To stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kindTo stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kind.
» A general straggling, trampish look about him was not helped by patched blue fatigues.
Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kind.
He straggled away from the crowd and went off on his own.
abweichen, abschweifen, umherwandern
отби́тьсяotbítʹsja, сби́тьсяsbítʹsja, блужда́тьbluždátʹ
wander from a direct or straight course
(intransitive)To act in a disorderly and irregular way.
abspreizen, ausstrecken, herausstehen
go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way
Grow or hang messily.
The roses had been allowed to straggle across the path.
A few gray wisps straggled from underneath his cap.
To move along slowly so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in front.
Examples
2 sentencesA general straggling, trampish look about him was not helped by patched blue fatigues.
People noticed back in the 70s or so that maybe one or two moose were straggling back into the Adirondacks.
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 3
Origin
From Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin, possibly from (or cognate to) dialectalFrom Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin, possibly from (or cognate to) dialectal Norwegian stragla (“to walk laboriously”).
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Forms
straggles, straggling, straggled, straggledSynonyms
4 synonymsWord family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle