First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1tumble
verb tum·ble \ˈtəm-bəl\
: to fall down suddenly and quickly
: to fall forward while turning over
: to fall or drop suddenly in amount, value, etc.
tum·bledtum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of TUMBLE
intransitive verb
1
2
a : to perform gymnastic feats in tumbling b : to turn end over end in falling or flight
3
: to roll over and over, to and fro, or end over end : toss
4
: to issue forth hurriedly and confusedly
5
: to come by chance : stumble
6
: to come to understand : catch on <didn't tumble to the seriousness of the problem>
transitive verb
1
: to cause to tumble (as by pushing or toppling)
3
: to whirl in a tumbling barrel
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Origin of TUMBLE
Middle English, frequentative of tumben to dance, from Old English tumbian; akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel
2tumble
noun
: an act of falling or tumbling
: an athletic movement in which you roll or turn your body across the ground or through the air
Full Definition of TUMBLE
1
a : a disordered mass of objects or material b : a disorderly state
2
: an act or instance of tumbling
See tumble defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TUMBLE
1634
Related to TUMBLE
- Synonyms
- agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, miscellany, variety, welter
- Antonyms
- order, orderliness
TUMBLE Defined for Kids
1tumble
verb tum·ble \ˈtəm-bəl\
tum·bledtum·bling
Definition of TUMBLE for Kids
1
: to fall suddenly and helplessly <He tumbled off the bridge.>
2
: to fall while rolling or bouncing <Boxes tumbled down the stairs.>
3
: to move or go in a hurried or confused way <The children tumbled out of the bus.>
4
: to toss together into a confused mass
5
: to perform gymnastic feats of rolling and turning
6
: to suffer a sudden downward turn or defeat <The value of gold tumbled.>
2tumble
noun
Definition of TUMBLE for Kids
1
: an act or instance of falling often while rolling or bouncing <Peter gave the dice a quick tumble. — Chris Van Allsburg, Jumanji>
2
: a messy state or collection
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