tum·ble
(tŭḿbəl)
[Middle English tumblen frequentative of tumben, to dance about, from Old English tumbian.]
verb: -bled, -bling, -bles.
intransitive verb
- To perform acrobatic feats such as somersaults, rolls, or twists.
- To fall or roll end over end: The kittens tumbled over each other.
- To spill or roll out in confusion or disorder: Students tumbled out of the bus.
- To pitch headlong; fall: tumbled on the ice.
- To proceed haphazardly.
- To topple, as from power or a high position; fall.
- To collapse: The wall tumbled down.
- 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.
transitive verb
- To cause to fall; bring down: A scandal tumbled the government.
- To put, spill, or toss haphazardly: tumbled the extra parts into a box.
- To toss or whirl in a drum, tumbler, or tumbling box.
noun
- An act of tumbling; a fall.
- Confusion; disorder.
