fumbling : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: fumbling	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for fumbling
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fumbling adj showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a shelf" Synonym(s): bungling, clumsy, fumbling, incompetent
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fumble \Fum"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fumbled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fumbling}.] [Akin to D. fommelen to crumple, fumble, Sw. fumla to fusuble, famla to grope, Dan. famle to grope, fumble, Icel. falme, AS. folm palm of the hand. See {Feel}, and cf. {Fanble}, {Palm}.] 1. To feel or grope about; to make awkward attempts to do or find something. Adams now began to fumble in his pockets. --Fielding. 2. To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly; as, to fumble for an excuse. --Dryden. My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles. --Chesterfield. Alas! how he fumbles about the domains. --Wordsworth. 3. To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over. I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers. --Shak.