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 verb1 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 : collapse2 a: to perform gymnastic feats in tumbling b: to turn end over end in falling or flight3: to roll over and over, to and fro, or end over end : toss4: to issue forth hurriedly and confusedly5: to come by chance : stumble6: to come to understand : catch on <didn't tumble to the seriousness of the problem>transitive verb1: to cause to tumble (as by pushing or toppling)2 a: to throw together in a confused mass b: rumple, disorder3: to whirl in a tumbling barrel