rove1
v.
- travel constantly without a fixed destination; wander.
▸
[
usu. as adj. roving]
travel for one's work, having no fixed base:
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a roving reporter.
- (of eyes) look around in all directions.
n.
chiefly N. Amer. an act of roving.
Etymology
C15 (orig. a term in archery): perh. from dial. rave ‘to stray’, prob. of Scand. origin.
rove3
n.
a piece of fibre drawn out and twisted, especially preparatory to spinning.
v.
form into roves.
Etymology
C18: of unknown origin.
rove4
n.
a small metal plate or ring for a rivet to pass through, especially in boatbuilding.
Etymology
ME: from ON ró, with the addition of -v-.
