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.

3. To make a buzzing sound.

v.tr.

1. To say (something) in a faltering manner.

2. To bungle; botch: bumble one's lines in a play.

---

[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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

bumbling - lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands; "a bumbling mechanic"; "a bungling performance"; "ham-handed governmental interference"; "could scarcely empty a scuttle of ashes, so handless was the poor creature"- Mary H. Vorse butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, bungling, handless, left-handed maladroit - not adroit; "a maladroit movement of his hand caused the car to swerve"; "a maladroit translation"; "maladroit propaganda"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

bumbling

adjective clumsy, awkward, blundering, bungling, incompetent, inefficient, lumbering, inept, maladroit a clumsy, bumbling, inarticulate figure
able, fit, capable, efficient, competent, brisk

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

bumbling

adjective

Clumsily lacking in the ability to do or perform:

awkward, clumsy, gauche, heavy-handed, inept, maladroit, unskillful.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

bumbling

[ˈbʌmblɪŋ]

A. ADJ (= inept) → inepto, inútil; (= muttering) → que habla a tropezones

B. N → divagación f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

bumbling

[ˈbʌmblɪŋ] adj [person] → empoté(e)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

bumbling

adj (= clumsy) → schusselig (inf); some bumbling idiot → irgend so ein Vollidiot (inf)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007