tum·ble
(tŭm′bəl)v. tum·bled, tum·bling, tum·bles
v.intr.1. To perform acrobatic feats such as somersaults, rolls, or twists.
2. a. To fall, roll, or move end over end: The rocks tumbled down the hill. The kittens tumbled over each other. The asteroids tumble through space.
b. To spill, roll out, or emerge in confusion or disorder: Toys tumbled out of the closet.
c. To pitch headlong; fall: tumbled on the ice.
d. To move quickly or awkwardly: We tumbled into the kitchen for lunch.
e. To hang down: Her hair tumbled onto her shoulders.
3. a. To collapse: The wall tumbled down.
b. To undergo a decline in position, status, or fortune: He tumbled from high office.
c. To decrease: Prices tumbled.
4. To come upon accidentally; happen on: We tumbled on a fine restaurant.
5. Slang To come to a sudden understanding; catch on: tumbled to the reality that he had been cheated.
v.tr.1. To cause to fall or collapse; bring down: The earthquake tumbled the wall.
2. To put, spill, or toss haphazardly: tumbled the extra parts into a box.
3. To toss or whirl in a drum, tumbler, or tumbling box: The dryer tumbles the clothes.
4. To cause to lose position, status, or fortune: A scandal tumbled the government.
n.1. An act of tumbling; a fall.
2. A decrease, as in value: Home prices took a tumble.
3. A confused or disordered collection or amount of something: a tumble of shacks by the river.
[Middle English tumblen, frequentative of tumben, to dance about, from Old English tumbian.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
tumble
(ˈtʌmbəl) vb1. to fall or cause to fall, esp awkwardly, precipitately, or violently
2. (usually foll by: about) to roll or twist, esp in playing: the kittens tumbled about on the floor.
3. (Gymnastics) (intr) to perform leaps, somersaults, etc
4. to go or move in a heedless or hasty way
5. (Jewellery) (tr) to polish (gemstones) in a tumbler
6. (tr) to disturb, rumple, or toss around: to tumble the bedclothes.
n7. the act or an instance of tumbling
8. a fall or toss
9. (Gymnastics) 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 and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tum•ble
(ˈtʌm bəl)
v. -bled, -bling,
n. v.i. 1. to fall helplessly down, esp. headfirst.
2. to roll end over end, as in falling.
3. to fall or decline rapidly; drop: Prices on the stock exchange tumbled.
4. to perform gymnastic feats of skill, as leaps and somersaults.
5. to fall suddenly from a position of power or authority.
6. to fall in ruins; collapse; topple.
7. to roll about by turning one way and another; pitch about; toss.
8. to stumble or fall (usu. fol. by over).
9. to go, come, get, etc., in a hasty and confused way.
10. Informal. to understand or become aware of some fact or circumstance (often fol. by to).
v.t. 11. to cause to fall or roll end over end.
12. to put in a disordered or rumpled condition; throw or toss about.
13. to cause to fall from power; overthrow; topple.
14. to cause to collapse in ruins.
15. to subject to the action of a tumbling barrel.
n. 16. an act of tumbling or falling.
17. a gymnastic or acrobatic feat.
18. an accidental fall; spill.
19. a drop in value, as of stocks.
20. a fall from a position of power or authority.
21. a response indicating interest, affection, etc.
22. tumbled condition.
[1250–1300; Middle English tum(b)len to dance in acrobatic style, frequentative of tomben, Old English tumbian]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.