Main Entry:

²fiddle

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

fid·dled; fid·dling \ˈfid-liŋ, ˈfi-d^əl-iŋ\

Date:

14th century

intransitive verb1: to play on a fiddle2 a: to move the hands or fingers restlessly b: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker <fiddled around with the engine for hours> c: meddle, tamper d: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something <fiddled with the radio knobs>transitive verb1: to play (as a tune) on a fiddle2: cheat, swindle3: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain <accountants fiddling the books — Stanley Cohen>

— fid·dler \ˈfid-lər, ˈfi-d^əl-ər\ noun