Library / English Dictionary

STRAGGLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wandering or disorderly grouping (of things or persons)

Example:

a straggle of followers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("straggle" is a kind of...):

group; grouping (any number of entities (members) considered as a unit)

Derivation:

straggle (go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way)

straggle (wander from a direct or straight course)

straggly (spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way

Example:

Branches straggling out quite far

Synonyms:

sprawl; straggle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "straggle" is one way to...):

distribute; spread (distribute or disperse widely)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

straggle (a wandering or disorderly grouping (of things or persons))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wander from a direct or straight course

Synonyms:

depart; digress; sidetrack; straggle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "straggle" is one way to...):

deviate; divert (turn aside; turn away from)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

straggle (a wandering or disorderly grouping (of things or persons))

straggler (someone who strays or falls behind)

Credits

 Context examples: 

While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So saying, he quickened his pace, and the three comrades were soon close to the straggling and broad-spread town which centered round the noble church and the frowning castle.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In and out amongst these green hills of what they call here the Mittel Land ran the road, losing itself as it swept round the grassy curve, or was shut out by the straggling ends of pine woods, which here and there ran down the hillsides like tongues of flame.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

All along the woodland track there did indeed run a scattered straggling trail of blood-marks, sometimes in single drops, and in other places in broad, ruddy gouts, smudged over the dead leaves or crimsoning the white flint stones.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then, spurring his steed, the young squire rode at the top of his speed after his companions, and overtook them just at the spot where the trees fringe off into the moor and the straggling hamlet of Hordle lies scattered on either side of the winding and deeply-rutted track.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A long, straggling troop bore spades and mattocks while the two rearmost of all staggered along under a huge basket o' fresh-caught carp, for the morrow was Friday, and there were fifty platters to be filled and as many sturdy trenchermen behind them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We straggled down quickly through the rain to the cars. Owl-Eyes spoke to me by the gate.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)