DODDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dodder mean? 

• DODDER (noun)
  The noun DODDER has 1 sense:

1. a leafless annual parasitic vine of the genus Cuscuta having whitish or yellow filamentous stems; obtain nourishment through haustoria

  Familiarity information: DODDER used as a noun is very rare.

• DODDER (verb)
  The verb DODDER has 1 sense:

1. walk unsteadily

  Familiarity information: DODDER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DODDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A leafless annual parasitic vine of the genus Cuscuta having whitish or yellow filamentous stems; obtain nourishment through haustoria

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

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

vine (a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dodder"):

Cuscuta gronovii; love vine (leafless parasitic vine with dense clusters of small white bell-shaped flowers on orange-yellow stems that twine around clover or flax)

Holonyms ("dodder" is a member of...):

Cuscuta; genus Cuscuta (genus of twining leafless parasitic herbs lacking chlorophyll: dodder)

• DODDER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dodder    ... he / she / it dodders   
Past simple: doddered   
Past participle: doddered   
-ing form: doddering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Walk unsteadily

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

coggle; dodder; paddle; toddle; totter; waddle

Context example:

small children toddle

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

walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The children dodder to the playground

Derivation:

dodderer (one who dodders from old age and weakness)

 Context examples 

He made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility.

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

He reeled and swayed, doddering like a drunken man to keep from falling.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)