tatear

Senses

1. 1.

   to grope, to feel around

   to search or explore by touching with the hands, especially in the dark or when unable to see

2. 2.

   to fumble, to feel one's way

   to move or proceed uncertainly or tentatively, often without clear direction

3. 3.

   to probe, to sound out

   to explore or investigate cautiously, especially in abstract or figurative contexts

Examples

• "Ele tateou a parede no escuro procurando o interruptor."

  He groped the wall in the dark looking for the light switch.

• "Ainda estamos tateando em busca de uma solução para o problema."

  We're still fumbling around looking for a solution to the problem.

• "A criança tateava os objetos na caixa sem olhar."

  The child was feeling around the objects in the box without looking.

Usage

Common verb used both literally (physical touching/groping) and figuratively (exploring uncertainly). Often appears with prepositions like "por" (tatear por algo). Regular -ear verb conjugation.