different between toddle vs straggle

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?d?l

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Possibly a byform of totter.

Verb

toddle (third-person singular simple present toddles, present participle toddling, simple past and past participle toddled)

1. To walk unsteadily, as a small child does.
2. To walk in a carefree manner.

   There he was, just toddling along.

Synonyms

• totter

Derived terms

• toddler
• toddle off

Translations

Noun

toddle (plural toddles)

1. A carefree or aimless gait; a stroll.

References

Anagrams

• dolted

English

Etymology

From Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st?æ?l?/
• Rhymes: -æ??l
• Hyphenation: strag?gle

Verb

straggle (third-person singular simple present straggles, present participle straggling, simple past and past participle straggled)

1. To stray from the road, course or line of march.

   He straggled away from the crowd and went off on his own.

2. To wander about; ramble.
3. To spread at irregular intervals.
4. To escape or stretch beyond proper limits, as the branches of a plant; to spread widely apart; to shoot too far or widely in growth.

   • Trim off the small, superfluous branches on each side of the hedge that straggle too far out.

5. To be dispersed or separated; to occur at intervals.
   • They came between Scylla and Charybdis and the straggling rocks.

Derived terms

• (noun) straggler
• (adverb) stragglingly

Translations

Noun

straggle (plural straggles)

1. An irregular, spread-out group.
2. An outlier; something that has strayed beyond the normal limits.
   • 1858 Thomas Carlyle, History of Friedrich II of Prussia

     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.