i Register
In some senses, grope is marked as obsolete, informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.
grope
UK /ɡɹəʊp/ US /ɡɹoʊp/
verb 5noun 2
Collocations
5(verb.)
ADV
blindly | vaguely | about/around/round
PREP
for
He groped around in the dark drawer for his phone charger.
PHRASES
grope your way
She groped her way down the dark hallway until she found the light switch.
Definitions
verb
1
To feel with or use the hands; to handle.
2
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.
a. 1812. Joseph Stevens Buckminster, sermon to grope about a little longer among the miseries and sensualities of a worldly life
In the hollow shades of the roof could be seen pale dangling arms of ivy which had crept through the joints of the tiles and were groping in vain for some support, their leaves being dwarfed and sickly for want of sunlight; [...]
3
To touch (another person) closely and (especially) sexually.
The parents found the couple kissing and groping.
4
To intentionally and inappropriately touch or rub against another person, in such a manner as to make the contact appear accidental, for the purpose of one's sexual gratification.
That old man groped that girl on the train!
5
To examine; to test; to sound.
Felix gropeth him, thinking to have a bribe.
noun
1
An act of groping, especially sexually.
The old man tried to get a quick grope of the young lady on the train.
2
An iron fitting of a medieval cart wheel.
Gropes appear to be pieces of iron binding together the inner joint of the fitting, and grope-nails to have been used for fastening these to the wood.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
verb — feel about uncertainly or blindly
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
a. 1812. Joseph Stevens Buckminster, sermon to grope about a little longer among the miseries and sensualities of a worldly life
Wiktionary02
In the hollow shades of the roof could be seen pale dangling arms of ivy which had crept through the joints of the tiles and were groping in vain for some support, their leaves being dwarfed and sickl
Wiktionary03
Yet there was no time to be lost if I was ever to get out alive, and so I groped with my hands against the side of the grave until I made out the bottom edge of the slab, and then fell to grubbing ben
Wiktionary04
The old man tried to get a quick grope of the young lady on the train.
Wiktionary05
Gropes appear to be pieces of iron binding together the inner joint of the fitting, and grope-nails to have been used for fastening these to the wood.
Wiktionary06
Dude, you can't just go up to a woman and grope her. That's sexual harassment!
Tatoeba · #2396342Usage Notes
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