Main Entry: ¹tum·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈtəm-bəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): tum·bled; tum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology: Middle English, frequentative of tumben to dance, from Old English tumbian; akin to Old High German tūmōn to reel

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to fall suddenly and helplessly b : to suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat c : to decline suddenly and sharply (as in price) : drop <the stock market tumbled> d : to fall into ruin : collapse
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)
2 a : to throw together in a confused mass b : rumple, disorder
3 : to whirl in a tumbling barrel