wel·ter (w
l
t
r)
n.
1. A confused mass; a jumble: a welter of papers and magazines.
2. Confusion; turmoil.
intr.v. wel·tered, wel·ter·ing, wel·ters
1. To wallow, roll, or toss about, as in mud or high seas.
2. To lie soaked in a liquid.
3. To roll and surge, as the sea.
[From Middle English welteren, to toss about, as in high seas, from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch, to roll; see wel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Noun
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1.
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welter – a confused multitude of things
disorderliness, disorder – a condition in which things are not in their expected places; “the files are in complete disorder”
rummage – a jumble of things to be given away
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Verb
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1.
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welter – toss, roll, or rise and fall in an uncontrolled way; “The shipwrecked survivors weltered in the sea for hours”
roll over – make a rolling motion or turn; “The dog rolled over”
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2.
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welter – roll around, “pigs were wallowing in the mud”
move – move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; “He moved his hand slightly to the right”
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3.
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welter – be immersed in; “welter in work”
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Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
