tâtonner — meaning in English

English meaning

• fumble verb To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.
• grope verb To feel around with the hands, especially when unable to see clearly.

Senses

tâtonner is used for these senses in English:

• fumble (transitive, intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
• grope (obsolete) To feel with or use the hands; to handle.
• grope To search or attempt to find something in the dark, or, as a blind person, by feeling; to move about hesitatingly, as in darkness or obscurity; to feel one's way, as with the hands, when one can not see.

fumble — full definition

1. verb To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.
2. verb In sports, to accidentally drop the ball.
3. noun An instance of dropping or clumsily mishandling something, especially in sport.

grope — full definition

1. verb To feel around with the hands, especially when unable to see clearly.
2. verb To touch another person inappropriately or sexually without consent.

Related French words