Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈstɹæɡl̩/
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ˈstɹæɡl̩
Verb
To stray, rove, or wander from a normal course and others of its kind.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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He straggled away from the crowd and went off on his own.
What, feareful coward, ſtragling from the camp, When Kings themſelues are preſent in the field?
More examples (3)
The wolf spy'd out a straggling Kid.
Trim off the small, superfluous branches on each side of the hedge that straggle too far out.
Our Authors ſay there are no Elephants in China, which muſt be underſtood of the Provinces they knew, where, in truth, there are none. Father Martini writes, that they begin to be met with at Nanning, in the Province of Quangli, where the Inhabitants uſe them for War and for Carriage. Some there are alſo in the Province of Junnan ; nor is it a wonder that theſe Creatures, who ſo ſwarm in the Indies, and in Tungkin or Tonquin, ſhould ſtraggle hither.
To act in a disorderly and irregular way.
Usage- Intransitive
Grow or hang messily.
- Examples
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The roses had been allowed to straggle across the path.
A few gray wisps straggled from underneath his cap.
More examples (3)
straggling pistol shots
They came between Scylla and Charybdis and the straggling rocks.
Then there was no more cover, for they straggled out, not in ranks but clusters, from among orange trees and tall, flowering shrubs[…].
To move along slowly so as to remain some distance behind the person or people in front.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
In the reverse direction, creature comforts were not closely studied, and the vessel left Antwerp at 1 p.m., to arrive in Harwich at the awkward hour of 2 a.m. The boat train was waiting for the weary stream of passengers, who straggled up George Street, encumbered with luggage, or following burdened porters in the darkness.
Noun
An irregular, spread-out group.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Twenty-five hundred hands snapped at a slant to the hats. The admiral strolled onto the field, smoking, followed by a straggle of officers, walking carelessly to symbolize the privileges of rank, but straggling at distances from the admiral strictly regulated by the number of sleeve stripes on each stragger.
At Milton the road is blocked by yet another Anzac parade, a straggle of people raw-faced in the cold.
More examples (1)
Apart from these few rail stations with a duka and a straggle of a few houses there was no town or village. That part of Kenya, mostly acacia bush and, further on, grassy plains with bush along the course of the few rivers, was empty of humanity […]
An outlier; something that has strayed beyond the normal limits.
- Examples
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Nevertheless there is a straggle of pungent sense in it, — like the outskirts of lightning, seen in that dismally wet weather, which the Royal Party had.
Noun
a wandering or disorderly grouping (of things or persons)
- Examples
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a straggle of outbuildings
a straggle of followers
Verb
wander from a direct or straight course
go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Branches straggling out quite far