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Blunder

//ˈblʌn.dɚ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.
  2. 2
    an embarrassing mistake wordnet
  3. 3
    A very bad move, usually caused by some tactical oversight.
  4. 4
    Confusion; bewilderment; trouble; disturbance; clamour. obsolete
Verb
  1. 1
    To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid. intransitive

    "to blunder in preparing a medical prescription"

  2. 2
    utter impulsively wordnet
  3. 3
    To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.; To make a bad move, especially caused by tactical oversight. intransitive
  4. 4
    make one's way clumsily or blindly wordnet
  5. 5
    To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.; To lose a piece due to having made a bad move [with the piece lost]. intransitive, transitive

    "blunder a rook"

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake wordnet
  2. 7
    To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.; To overlook the possibility of, or end up in, a specified undesirable situation after making a bad move. intransitive, transitive

    "blunder a draw"

  3. 8
    To move in an unsteady way. figuratively, intransitive, sometimes

    "I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow."

  4. 9
    To enter a place or become involved in a difficult situation by mistake. intransitive

    "He and I had blundered into the middle of a gang fight once and I saw him shank a guy-stuck homeboy in the chest and strolled off cool as you please."

  5. 10
    To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse. obsolete, transitive

    "He blunders and confounds all these together."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English blundren, blondren (verb) and blunder, blonder (“disturbance, strife”), from the verb; partly from Middle English blondren, a frequentative form of Middle English blonden, blanden ("to mix; mix up"; corresponding to blend + -er); and partly from Middle English blundren, a frequentative form of Middle English blunden (“to stagger; stumble”), from Old Norse blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”). Cognates include Norwegian blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”), dialectal Swedish blundra (“to act blindly or rashly”), Danish blunde (“to blink”) or blunde (“to take a nap”), Icelandic blunda (“to nap; doze”). Related to English blind.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English blundren, blondren (verb) and blunder, blonder (“disturbance, strife”), from the verb; partly from Middle English blondren, a frequentative form of Middle English blonden, blanden ("to mix; mix up"; corresponding to blend + -er); and partly from Middle English blundren, a frequentative form of Middle English blunden (“to stagger; stumble”), from Old Norse blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”). Cognates include Norwegian blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”), dialectal Swedish blundra (“to act blindly or rashly”), Danish blunde (“to blink”) or blunde (“to take a nap”), Icelandic blunda (“to nap; doze”). Related to English blind.

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