rumble definition | Dictionary.com

rum⋅ble

[ruhm-buh

verb, -bled, -bling, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to make a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound, as thunder.

2.	to move or travel with such a sound: The train rumbled on.

3.	Slang. to have or take part in a street fight between or among teenage gangs: Rival gangs rumbled on Saturday afternoon.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound: to rumble a command.

5.	to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound: to rumble a wagon over the ground.

6.	to subject to the action of a rumble or tumbling box, as for the purpose of polishing.

–noun

7.	a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound: the rumble of tanks across a bridge.

8.	rumble seat.

9.	a rear part of a carriage containing seating accommodations, as for servants, or space for baggage.

10.	tumbling box.

11.	Slang. a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

Origin:
1325–75; 1940–45 for def. 3; (v.) ME romblen, rumblen; cf. D rommelen, prob. of imit. orig.; (n.) ME, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:

rumbler, noun

rum⋅bling⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. roar, thunder, roll, boom.

tumbling box

–noun

a box, pivoted at two corners, used in the manner of a tumbling barrel.

Also called rumble.

Origin:
1875–80

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

rum·ble (rŭm'bəl)

v. rum·bled, rum·bling, rum·bles

v. intr.

To make a deep, long, rolling sound.
To move or proceed with a deep, long, rolling sound.
Slang To engage in a gang fight.

v. tr.

To utter with a deep, long, rolling sound.
To polish or mix (metal parts) in a tumbling box.

A deep, long, rolling sound.
A tumbling box.
A luggage compartment or servant's seat in the rear of a carriage.
Slang
1. Pervasive, widespread expression of unrest or dissatisfaction.
2. A gang fight.

[Middle English romblen, perhaps from Middle Dutch rommelen or from Middle Low German rummeln.]
rum'bler n., rum'bling·ly adv., rum'bly adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Rumble

Rum"ble\, v. i. [OE. romblen, akin to D. rommelen, G. rumpeln, Dan. rumle; cf. Icel. rymja to roar.]

1. To make a low, heavy, continued sound; as, the thunder rumbles at a distance.

In the mean while the skies 'gan rumble sore. --Surrey.

The people cried and rombled up and down. --Chaucer.

2. To murmur; to ripple.

To rumble gently down with murmur soft. --Spenser.

Rumble

Rum"ble\, n. 1. A noisy report; rumor. [Obs.]

Delighting ever in rumble that is new. --Chaucer.

2. A low, heavy, continuous sound like that made by heavy wagons or the reverberation of thunder; a confused noise; as, the rumble of a railroad train.

Clamor and rumble, and ringing and clatter. --Tennyson.

Merged in the rumble of awakening day. --H. James.

3. A seat for servants, behind the body of a carriage.

Kit, well wrapped, . . . was in the rumble behind. --Dickens.

4. A rotating cask or box in which small articles are smoothed or polished by friction against each other.

Rumble

Rum"ble\, v. t. To cause to pass through a rumble, or shaking machine. See Rumble, n., 4.

Language Translation for : rumble

Spanish: retumbar, hacer un ruido sordo, resonar, retronar,

German: rumpeln,rollen,

Japanese: ごろごろ鳴る

More Translations »

rumble (v.)

c.1384, probably related to M.Du. rommelen "to rumble," M.H.G. rummeln, O.N. rymja "to shout, roar," all of imitative origin. The noun is attested from c.1386. Slang noun meaning "gang fight" is from 1946. Meaning "backmost part of a carriage" is from 1808 (earlier rumbler, 1801), probably from the effect of sitting over the wheels; hence rumble seat (1912).

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