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bumbling - 5 dictionary results

bum⋅bling

  [buhm-bling]
Use bumbling in a Sentence
–adjective
1. liable to make awkward blunders: a bumbling mechanic.
2. clumsily incompetent or ineffectual: bumbling diplomacy.
–noun
3. the act or practice of making blunders: The bumbling of their officers cost them the battle.
Origin:
1525–35; bumble 1 + -ing 2

Related forms:
bum⋅bling⋅ly, adverb

bum⋅ble

1  [buhm-buhl] verb, -bled, -bling, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to bungle or blunder awkwardly; muddle: He somehow bumbled through two years of college.
2. to stumble or stagger.
3. to speak in a low, stuttering, halting manner; mumble.
–verb (used with object)
4. to do (something) clumsily; botch.
–noun
5. an awkward blunder.
Origin:
1525–35; perh. b. bungle and stumble

Related forms:
bumbler, noun

bum⋅ble

2  [buhm-buhl]
–verb (used without object), -bled, -bling.
to make a buzzing, humming sound, as a bee.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME bomblen, freq. of bomben to boom, buzz; imit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bumbling
bum·ble 1   (bŭm'bəl)   
v.   bum·bled, bum·bling, bum·bles

v.   intr.
  1. To speak in a faltering manner.
  2. To move, act, or proceed clumsily. See Synonyms at blunder.
v.   tr.
To bungle; botch.

[Perhaps blend of bungle and stumble.]
bum'bler n.
bum·ble 2   (bŭm'bəl)   
intr.v.   bum·bled, bum·bling, bum·bles
To make a humming or droning sound; buzz.
n.  A humming or droning sound; a buzz.

[Middle English bomblen, of imitative origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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