tumble
Use Tumble in a sentence
bəl verb (used without object)
1.
to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong: to tumble down the stairs.
2.
to roll end over end, as in falling: The stones tumbled down the hill.
3.
to fall or decline rapidly; drop: Prices on the stock market tumbled today.
4.
to perform gymnastic feats of skill and agility, as leaps or somersaults.
5.
to fall suddenly from a position of power or authority; suffer overthrow: As one dictator tumbles, another is rising to take his place.
6.
to fall in ruins, as from age or decay; collapse; topple: The walls of the old mansion tumbled down upon the intruders.
7.
to roll about by turning one way and another; pitch about; toss.
8.
to stumble or fall (usually followed by over ): to tumble over a sled.
9.
to go, come, get, etc., in a hasty and confused way: The people tumbled out of the theater. He tumbled hurriedly into his clothes.
10.
Informal. to understand or become aware of some fact or circumstance (often followed by to ): He finally tumbled to what they were doing.
11.
Rocketry. (of a missile) to rotate without control end over end.
verb (used with object)
12.
to cause to fall or roll end over end; throw over or down.
13.
to throw or toss about; cause disarray, as in handling or searching.
14.
to put in a disordered or rumpled condition.
15.
to throw, cast, put, send, etc., in a precipitate, hasty, or rough manner.
16.
to cause to fall from a position of authority or power; overthrow; topple: They tumbled him from his throne.
17.
to cause to fall or collapse in ruins: The wreckers tumbled the walls of the building.
18.
to subject to the action of a tumbling box.
00:10
Tumble
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to bark; yelp. |
noun
Idioms 19.
an act of tumbling or falling.
20.
a gymnastic or acrobatic feat.
21.
an accidental fall; spill.
22.
a drop in value, as of stocks.
23.
a fall from a position of power or authority: The great director took a tumble when he was replaced by a newcomer.
28.
take a tumble to, Australian Slang. to come to understand.
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English tum(b)len to dance in acrobatic style (cognate with Dutch tuimelen, Low German tummeln), frequentative of Middle English tomben, Old English tumbian, (cognate with Old Norse tumba, akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel (perhaps < OLG); compare French tomber to fall < Gmc); see -le
1250–1300; Middle English tum(b)len to dance in acrobatic style (cognate with Dutch tuimelen, Low German tummeln), frequentative of Middle English tomben, Old English tumbian, (cognate with Old Norse tumba, akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel (perhaps < OLG); compare French tomber to fall < Gmc); see -le
Related forms
un·tum·bled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Tumble
Collins
World English Dictionary
tumble (ˈtʌmbəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (usually foll by about) | |
| 1. | to fall or cause to fall, esp awkwardly, precipitately, or violently |
| 2. | to roll or twist, esp in playing: the kittens tumbled about on the floor |
| 3. | (intr) to perform leaps, somersaults, etc |
| 4. | to go or move in a heedless or hasty way |
| 5. | (tr) to polish (gemstones) in a tumbler |
| 6. | (tr) to disturb, rumple, or toss around: to tumble the bedclothes |
| —n | |
| 7. | the act or an instance of tumbling |
| 8. | a fall or toss |
| 9. | an acrobatic feat, esp a somersault |
| 10. | a decrease in value, number, etc: stock markets have taken a tumble |
| 11. | a state of confusion |
| 12. | a confused heap or pile: a tumble of clothes |
| [Old English tumbian, from Old French tomber; related to Old High German tūmōn to turn] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
tumble
c.1300, "to perform as an acrobat," also "to fall down," perhaps from a frequentative form of O.E. tumbian "dance about," of unknown origin. Related to M.L.G. tummelen "to turn, dance," Du. tuimelen "to tumble," O.H.G. tumon, Ger. taumeln "to turn, reel." The noun is recorded from 1716. Tumble-down (1791)
originally meant "habitually falling down" and was used first of horses; sense of "in a dilapidated condition" is recorded from 1818. Tumble-weed is attested from 1887.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
While autumn leaves tumble from trees this fall, another natural wonder is soaring overhead.
These layers tumble and fall in a giant block, or slab.
Although they can release their muscular foothold to tumble in a current-a few can even swim freely-they are rarely in a hurry.
And even if the dollar were to tumble, the global nature of the recession might mean it would yield few benefits.
Idioms & Phrases
Matching Quote
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
