MEANDERS Meaning and
Definition
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Meanders refer to a winding or sinuous course that a river or stream takes. It describes the natural geographical phenomenon where a body of water, typically a river, follows a serpentine path instead of a straight line. Meanders are a result of the interplay between erosion and deposition processes that take place along the river's course. As a river flows, it erodes the outer bank or convex bank and deposits sediment on the inner bank or concave bank, leading to the formation of bends and curves.
The gradual and continuous erosion on the outer side and sediment deposition on the inner side results in the development of characteristic sweeping curves in the river's overall course. These meandering patterns can vary in size and scale, ranging from large meanders covering several kilometers to smaller ones which may only be a few meters wide. Along the course of a meandering river, various features can be observed, including point bars (depositional features on the inner curve), cut banks (erosive features on the outer curve), and oxbow lakes (abandoned channels that become isolated).
Meanders play an essential role in shaping the landscape and have significant impacts on ecosystem dynamics. They often create diverse habitats and support a variety of organisms, as the slow-moving water and fluctuating channels provide different niches for numerous species. Additionally, meanders contribute to the transport and deposition of sediments, influencing soil fertility and sediment accumulation in river deltas.
In summary, meanders refer to the curving and twisting path of a river or stream due to the interplay between erosion and deposition processes, resulting in the formation of pronounced bends and curves along its course.
Common Misspellings for MEANDERS
Etymology of MEANDERS
The word "meander" comes from the Ancient Greek word "maíandros", which was derived from the name of the Maeander River in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The Maeander River was known for its winding and intricate path, which led to the creation of the word "meander" to describe a similar wandering or circuitous movement. Over time, the term "meander" expanded its meaning beyond physical rivers or streams to describe any kind of winding or indirect course.
Similar spelling words for MEANDERS
Conjugate verb Meanders
CONDITIONAL
I
would meander
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would meander
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FUTURE
I
will meander
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will meander
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will meander
he/she/it
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FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have meandered
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will have meandered
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will have meandered
he/she/it
will have meandered
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will have meandered
PAST
I
meandered
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meandered
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meandered
he/she/it
meandered
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PAST PERFECT
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had meandered
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had meandered
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had meandered
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had meandered
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had meandered
PRESENT
I
meander
we
meander
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meander
he/she/it
meanders
they
meander
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have meandered
we
have meandered
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have meandered
he/she/it
has meandered
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have meandered
I
am meandering
we
are meandering
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are meandering
he/she/it
is meandering
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are meandering
I
was meandering
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were meandering
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were meandering
he/she/it
was meandering
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were meandering
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will be meandering
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will be meandering
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will be meandering
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have been meandering
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have been meandering
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have been meandering
he/she/it
has been meandering
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have been meandering
I
had been meandering
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had been meandering
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had been meandering
he/she/it
had been meandering
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had been meandering
I
will have been meandering
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will have been meandering
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will have been meandering
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will have been meandering
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would have meandered
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would have meandered
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would have meandered
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would have meandered
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would have meandered
I
would be meandering
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would be meandering
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would be meandering
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would be meandering
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would be meandering
I
would have been meandering
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would have been meandering
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would have been meandering
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would have been meandering
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would have been meandering
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