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tumble Definition

tum·ble (tumbəl)

intransitive verb -·bled, -·bling

  1. to do somersaults, handsprings, or similar acrobatic or gymnastic feats
    1. to fall suddenly, clumsily, or helplessly
    2. to fall or decline suddenly, as from power, high value, etc.
    3. to come down in ruins; collapse
  2. to stumble or trip
  3. to toss about or roll around
  4. to move, go, issue, etc. in a hasty, awkward, or disorderly manner
  5. Informal to have sudden awareness or understanding of some situation: with to

Etymology: ME tumblen, freq. of tumben < OE tumbian, to fall, jump, dance; akin to Ger tummeln, taumeln < OHG *tumalon, freq. of tumon, to turn < IE base *dheu-, to be turbid > dull

transitive verb

  1. to cause to tumble; make fall, overthrow, topple, roll over, etc.
  2. to put into disorder by or as by tossing here and there; disarrange
  3. to whirl in a tumbler (sense )

noun

  1. the act or an instance of tumbling; specif.,
    1. a somersault, handspring, etc.
    2. a fall or decline
    3. a stumble
  2. disorder; confusion
  3. a confused heap

tumble Idioms

give (or get) a tumble

Informal to give (or get) some favorable or affectionate notice, attention, etc.

tumble Synonyms

tumble

v.

tumble Usage Examples

Object

  • waterfall: Day 11: Dusky Fiord Cruise past sheer cliffs and tumbling waterfalls.
  • dryer: Utility room with washing machine, sink and tumble dryer.
  • boulder: Suppose we have a road sign saying ' danger - falling rocks ' and a neat picture of some tumbling boulders.
  • stream: The descent off Ben Lawyers pass is fast and technical, traversing numerous times over crystal tumbling streams.
  • river: At first the walk is fairly level along tumbling melt-water river.

Converse of object

  • dry: Wash at 60 with your diapers, can be tumble dried on a low heat.

Adjective modifier

  • nasty: Fiona Crossley traveled up from Yorkshire to take third place & 1st female veteran despite a nasty tumble on the hill.

Modifies a noun

  • dryer: The tumble dryer is housed in the integral garage which leads directly from the kitchen.
  • drier: The washing machine & tumble drier are housed in a separate utility room.
  • reverse: A conventional tumble reverse mechanism took the drive from the headstock spindle to the gearbox drive train.

Modifying Another Word

  • headlong: The future might well be a headlong tumble into some version of the Middle Ages or worse.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • down: Tears tumble down my cheeks, My smile gone.
  • over: How much pressure need be applied to make him tumble over in the opponents penalty area?

Followed by a transitive particle

  • down: West of the square, the Moorish alleys tumble down the hill toward the city walls.

Adjective complement

  • dryable: Machine washable at up to 95 degrees, tumble dryable.
  • dry: Remove all " do not tumble dry " items.

Particle object:

  • hillside: The village of Deja, with its houses tumbling down a hillside, was once renowned as an artists ' retreat.
  • stair: It would be so easy for the railing to break and for me to go tumbling down the stairs.
  • slope: Michael fell back and tumbled down a steep slope along with Jack.

Present participle complement

  • dry: Washing and tumble drying will keep the fabric at maximum performance.
tumble Quotes

In time the Rockies may crumble Gibraltar may tumble They're only made of clay, But our love is here to stay.

—Gershwin, Ira originally Israel Gershowitz

Then strip lads, and to it, though sharp be the weather, And if, by mischance, you should happen to fall, There are worse things in life than a tumble on the heather And life is itself a game of football.

—Scott, Sir Walter

Browse dictionary entries near tumble

  1. Tulsa
  2. Tully
  3. tulle
  4. tulipwood
  5. tulipmania
  6. tulip tree
  7. tulip
  8. tule
  9. tularemia
  10. Tula
  1. tumblebug
  2. tumbledown
  3. tumbler
  4. tumbleweed
  5. tumbling
  6. tumbrel
  7. tumefacient
  8. tumefaction
  9. tumefy
  10. tumescence