Tumbling Definition | Definition of Tumbling at Dictionary.com

tum⋅bling

[tuhm-bling]

Use Tumbling in a Sentence

–noun

the act, practice, or art of performing acrobatic tumbles, usually on a mat or the ground.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME tomblyng. See tumble, -ing ¹

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tum⋅ble

[tuhm-buh

verb, -bled, -bling, noun

–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 fol. 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 fol. 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.

–noun

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.

24.	a response indicating interest, affection, etc.: She wouldn't give me a tumble.

25.	tumbled condition; disorder or confusion.

26.	a confused heap: a tumble of papers, ashes, pens, and keys on the desk.

27.	Chiefly New England. a haycock.

—Idiom

28.	take a tumble to, Australian Slang. to come to understand.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME tum(b)len to dance in acrobatic style (c. D tuimelen, LG tummeln), freq. of ME tomben, OE tumbian, (c. ON tumba, akin to OHG tūmōn to reel (perh. < OLG); cf. F tomber to fall < Gmc); see -le

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To Tumbling

tum·ble (tŭm'bəl)

v. tum·bled, tum·bling, tum·bles

v. intr.

To perform acrobatic feats such as somersaults, rolls, or twists.
1. To fall or roll end over end: The kittens tumbled over each other.
2. To spill or roll out in confusion or disorder: Students tumbled out of the bus.
3. To pitch headlong; fall: tumbled on the ice.
4. To proceed haphazardly.
5. To topple, as from power or a high position; fall.
6. To collapse: The wall tumbled down.
7. To drop: Prices tumbled.
1. To topple, as from power or a high position; fall.
2. To collapse: The wall tumbled down.
3. To drop: Prices tumbled.
To come upon accidentally; happen on: We tumbled on a fine restaurant.
Slang To come to a sudden understanding; catch on: tumbled to the reality that he had been cheated.