Muddle

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ÊŒdÉ™l

Full definition of muddle

Verb

1. To mix together, to mix up; to confuse.Young children tend to muddle their words.
2. To mash slightly for use in a cocktail.He muddled the mint sprigs in the bottom of the glass.
3. To dabble in mud.
4. To make turbid or muddy.
• L'EstrangeHe did ill to muddle the water.
5. To think and act in a confused, aimless way.
6. To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially.
• BentleyTheir old master Epicurus seems to have had his brains so muddled and confounded with them, that he scarce ever kept in the right way.
• Arbuthnotoften drunk, always muddled
7. To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated.
• HazlittThey muddle it money away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it.

Derived terms

• muddler (agent noun)
• muddle through
• muddle up

Noun

1. A mixture; a confusion; a garble.The muddle of nervous speech he uttered did not have much meaning.

Derived terms

• muddle-headed