nomadic
adjUK /nəʊˈmæd.ɪk/ · CA, US /noʊˈmæd.ɪk/
Etymology From Ancient Greek νομαδικός (nomadikós), equivalent to nomad (“a member of a society or class of herdsmen”) + -ic (forming adjectives).
› Of or relating to nomads.
1
Anthropology, Human sciences, Sciences Of or related to itinerant herdsmen.
- For centuries, the nomadic tribes of Central Asia used colorful textiles called suzanis as seating, prayer mats, bedding and dividers in their yurts – the traditional tents that were their homes.2024 December 19, Amy Gunia, “Young Uzbeks are finding new markets for traditional handicrafts online”, in CNN Business:
2
Figuratively Of or related to any habitually wandering person or animal.
- Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016, pages 47–48:
- Neither vehicle has a set home base. Young explains: "They are 'nomadic' nationally employed assets that, rather than having a regular home depot, are generally deployed and maintained following a programme of works across the full network.2022 September 7, Tom Allett, “At the cutting edge of NR's track work”, in RAIL, number 965, page 40:
- Synonyms
30 terms
nomad, pastoral, wandering, peripatetic, itinerant, itinerate, unsettled, vagabond, roving, drifting, roaming, wayfaring, vagrant, transient, rambling, peregrine, ambulatory, ambulant, erratic, errant, rootless, gypsy, floating, perambulatory, perambulant, discursive, meandering, ambling, footloose, prodigal- Derived terms
- nomadically, nomadic furniture, nomadicity, nonnomadic, seminomadic, unnomadic