Meaning

• Any of various bowed string instruments, often a violin when played in any of various traditional styles, as opposed to classical violin.

  "When I play it like this, it's a fiddle; when I play it like that, it's a violin."

• A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with leaves shaped like the musical instrument.

• An adjustment intended to cover up a basic flaw.

  "That parameter setting is just a fiddle to make the lighting look right."

• A fraud; a scam.

• On board a ship or boat, a rail or batten around the edge of a table or stove to prevent objects falling off at sea. (Also fiddle rail)

Meaning

• To play aimlessly.

  "You're fiddling your life away."

• To adjust or manipulate for deception or fraud.

  "Fred was sacked when the auditors caught him fiddling the books."

• To play traditional tunes on a violin in a non-classical style.

• To touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way, or tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements.