GROPE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does grope mean? 

• GROPE (noun)
  The noun GROPE has 1 sense:

1. the act of groping; and instance of groping

  Familiarity information: GROPE used as a noun is very rare.

• GROPE (verb)
  The verb GROPE has 3 senses:

1. feel about uncertainly or blindly

2. search blindly or uncertainly

3. fondle for sexual pleasure

  Familiarity information: GROPE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GROPE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of groping; and instance of groping

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("grope" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Derivation:

grope (fondle for sexual pleasure)

grope (feel about uncertainly or blindly)

grope (search blindly or uncertainly)

• GROPE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they grope    ... he / she / it gropes   
Past simple: groped   
Past participle: groped   
-ing form: groping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Feel about uncertainly or blindly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

fumble; grope

Context example:

She groped for her glasses in the darkness of the bedroom

Hypernyms (to "grope" is one way to...):

look for; search; seek (try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

grope for (feel searchingly)

Derivation:

grope (the act of groping; and instance of groping)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Search blindly or uncertainly

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

His mind groped to make the connection

Hypernyms (to "grope" is one way to...):

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

grope (the act of groping; and instance of groping)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Fondle for sexual pleasure

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He made some sexual advances at the woman in his office and groped her repeatedly

Hypernyms (to "grope" is one way to...):

caress; fondle (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

grope (the act of groping; and instance of groping)

 Context examples 

And yet she had caught an impression of power in the very groping of this mind.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I groped my way to the door, and putting my own lips to the keyhole, whispered: “Is that you, Peggotty dear?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Or else he probes them with the cruel hand of a vivisectionist, groping about in their mental processes and examining their souls as though to see of what soul-stuff is made.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He fought with his fear and pulled himself together, groping in the water and recovering the weapon.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The thieves ran off as if a wolf was at their tails: and the maid, having groped about and found nothing, went away for a light.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Up he got, groped his way to the piano, laid a kind hand on either of the broad shoulders, and said, as gently as a woman, "I know, my boy, I know."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He groped his way back to the house, and, re-entering it, closed the door.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He dared not look down and could but grope slowly onwards, his face to the cliff, his fingers clutching, his feet scraping and feeling for a support.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Alone I had thought of it, and alone I had done it; and here was the chart which would save us a month's blind groping among unknown dangers.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)