资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.
资料来源 : WordNet®
fumbling
adj : showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman";
"did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a
shelf" [syn: {bungling}, {clumsy}, {incompetent}]