ROVING • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Roving

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/rˈoʊvɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Rove v. t.

1.

To draw through an eye or aperture.

2.

To draw out into flakes; to card, as wool.

3.

To twist slightly; to bring together, as slivers of wool or cotton, and twist slightly before spinning.

Rove v. t.

1.

To wander over or through. "Roving the field, I chanced A goodly tree far distant to behold."

2.

To plow into ridges by turning the earth of two furrows together.

Rove v. i. (past & past part. roved; pres. part. roving)

1.

To practice robbery on the seas; to wander about on the seas in piracy. (Obs.)

2.

Hence, to wander; to ramble; to rauge; to go, move, or pass without certain direction in any manner, by sailing, walking, riding, flying, or otherwise. "For who has power to walk has power to rove."

3.

(Archery) To shoot at rovers; hence, to shoot at an angle of elevation, not at point-blank (rovers usually being beyond the point-blank range). "Fair Venus' son, that with thy cruel dart At that good knight so cunningly didst rove."

Synonyms: To wander; roam; range; ramble stroll.

noun

Roving n.

1.

The operatin of forming the rove, or slightly twisted sliver or roll of wool or cotton, by means of a machine for the purpose, called a roving frame, or roving machine.

2.

A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slightly twisted; a rove. See 2d Rove, 2.

Roving frame, Roving machine, a machine for drawing and twisting roves and twisting roves and winding them on bobbin for the spinning machine.

Roving n. The act of one who roves or wanders.

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Etymology of 'Roving'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Roving" Quotes from Famous Books

... lips. It would have touched another to note what an irresistible fascination the bars had for the wings, despite all pain; but Lucius Brady's interest in Stingaree was exclusively intellectual. His heart never ached for a roving spirit in confinement; it did not occur to him to suppress a detail of his own days in Sydney, down to the attractions of an Italian restaurant he had discovered near the jail, the flavor of the Chianti and so forth. ...

— Stingaree • E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung

... a faint light on the horizon, and believing that it came from an Indian camp, he decided to stalk it. Placing all his supplies inside the blankets and the painted robe, he fastened the whole pack to the high bough of a tree in such a manner that no roving wild animal could get them, and then advanced toward the light, which grew larger as he approached. It also became evident very soon that it was a camp, as he had inferred, but a much larger one than his original supposition. It had been pitched in a valley for the sake of shelter from cold winds, ...

— The Eyes of the Woods - A story of the Ancient Wilderness • Joseph A. Altsheler

... was torrid, the noon ardors still imprisoned between the slanting walls. Presently she sat back on her heels, and with an earthy hand pushed the moist hair from her forehead. The movement brought her head up, and her wandering eyes, roving in morose inspection, turned to the cleft's opening. Courant was standing there, watching her. His hands hung loose at his sides, his head was drooped forward, his chin lowered toward his throat. The position lent to his gaze a suggestion ...

— The Emigrant Trail • Geraldine Bonner

... as those of an American or Frenchman. Nevertheless, it was evident, that as for any high-toned patriotic feeling, there was comparatively very little—hardly any of it—evinced by our sailors as a body. Upon reflection, this was not to be wondered at. From their roving career, and the sundering of all domestic ties, many sailors, all the world over, are like the "Free Companions," who some centuries ago wandered over Europe, ready to fight the battles of any prince who could purchase their ...

— White Jacket - or, the World on a Man-of-War • Herman Melville

... eyes roving met nothing but signs of luxury. She led him into the library and turned on the lights. Not a servant anywhere in sight; the great house seemed absolutely empty. Not even the usual cat or dog came romping inquisitively into the room. The shelves of ...

— Half a Rogue • Harold MacGrath

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