fumble

verb

1. (intransitive, transitive)To handle nervously or awkwardly.

   “Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.”

   “He fumbled the key into the lock.”

2. (intransitive, transitive)To grope awkwardly in trying to find something

   “He fumbled for his keys.”

   “He fumbled his way to the light-switch.”

   “Adams novv began to fumble in his Pockets, and ſoon cried out, O la! I have it [a sermon] not about me— […]”

3. (intransitive)To blunder uncertainly.

   “He fumbled through his prepared speech.”

4. To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.

   “to fumble for an excuse”

   “My understanding stutters, and my memory fumbles.”

   “Alas! how he fumbles about the domains.”

5. (intransitive, transitive)To drop a ball or a baton etc. by accident.

   “Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.”

6. To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.

   “I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers.”

7. (obsolete, slang)Of a man, to sexually underperform.

noun

1. (Canadian)A ball etc. that has been dropped by accident.
2. A clumsy sexual encounter.

   “Suzy and Jimmy had a fumble behind the bike shed.”

3. (British)A dessert similar to a cross between a fool and a crumble.