bumble

bumble
I. intransitive verb (bumbled; bumbling) Etymology: Middle English bomblen to boom, of imitative origin Date: 15th century 1. buzz 2. drone, rumble II. verb (bumbled; bumbling) Etymology: perhaps alteration of bungle Date: 1532 intransitive verb 1. blunder; specifically to speak ineptly in a stuttering and faltering manner 2. to proceed unsteadily ; stumble transitive verb bunglebumbler nounbumblingly adverb

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Bumble — may refer to:* Bumblebee (also spelt bumble bee), a flying insect of the genus Bombus. * Bumble Bees (song), the 2000 single by the Scandinavian dance pop group Aqua. * Bumble Bee Slim (real name Amos Easton, 1905–1968), a best selling Blues… …   Wikipedia

  • Bumble — Bum ble, v. i. To make a hollow or humming noise, like that of a bumblebee; to buzz; to cry as a bittern. [1913 Webster] As a bittern bumbleth in the mire. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bumble — Bum ble, n. [See {Bump} to boom.] (Zo[ o]l.) The bittern. [Local, Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bumble — Bum ble, v. i. to act ineptly or without clear understanding of what one is doing; to blunder; to stumble about; sometimes used with around. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bumble — Bum ble, v. t. to bungle (a task). [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bumble — self important petty official, 1856, from name of fussy, pompous, stupid beadle in Dickens Oliver Twist …   Etymology dictionary

  • bumble — (v.) to flounder, blunder, 1530s, probably of imitative origin …   Etymology dictionary

  • bumble — vb *stumble, trip, blunder, lurch, flounder, lumber, galumph, lollop …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • bumble — ► VERB 1) act or speak in an awkward or confused manner. 2) (of an insect) buzz or hum. DERIVATIVES bumbler noun. ORIGIN from BOOM(Cf. ↑boomy) …   English terms dictionary

  • bumble — [bum′bəl] vi. bumbled, bumbling 1. to blunder 2. to stumble vt. to bungle or botch bumbler n …   English World dictionary

  • bumble — 1. noun a) A confusion, jumble. b) A bumble bee. 2. verb a) To act in an inept, clumsy or …   Wiktionary

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