Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dig or search by pushing with the snout: The primary meaning of "rootle" describes the action of an animal, especially a pig, using its snout to dig into the ground in search of food.
   • To rummage or search busily: By extension, it can describe a person searching for something in a busy, energetic, and often untidy manner.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The wild boar began to rootle in the soft earth for tubers.
  • She rootled through the old trunk in the attic, hoping to find the missing letters.

Advanced Usage

• "to rootle about/around": to search or rummage in a particular area.
  • The children were rootling about in the toy box.
• "to rootle out": to find something by searching.
  • He managed to rootle out an old photograph from the back of the drawer.

Variants and Related Words

• Root (verb): A more common verb with a similar meaning of digging or searching with the snout, or establishing something firmly. (e.g., / )
• Rout (verb, archaic): To dig or root about with the snout. This is an older, less common form.

Synonyms

• Root (for the animal action)
• Rummage
• Forage
• Poke around

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rootle about/around: As defined in Advanced Usage.
• Rootle out: As defined in Advanced Usage.

Related Idioms

Verb

1. dig with the snout
   • the pig was rooting for truffles