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betasten

to feel, to palpate, to touch all over

verb be-TAHS-ten Rare
Body & Health Movement

Usage Note

betasten means to explore something by touching it — a doctor palpating a patient, or checking a surface by feel. It implies a more thorough, exploratory touching than anfassen. Common in medical examination contexts (die Lymphknoten betasten).

Examples

"Der Arzt betastete den Bauch des Patienten vorsichtig."

Natural Translation

The doctor carefully palpated the patient's abdomen.

Literal Translation

The doctor palpated the belly of the patient carefully.

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