tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: one that tumbles: such as

a

: one who performs tumbling feats : acrobat

b

: any of various domestic pigeons that tumble or roll over backward in flight or on the ground

2

: a drinking glass without foot or stem and originally with pointed or convex base

3

a

: a movable obstruction in a lock (such as a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or pin) that must be adjusted to a particular position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown

b

: a piece on which the mainspring acts in a gun's lock

4

: a device or mechanism for tumbling (such as a revolving cage in which clothes are dried)

5

: a worker who operates a tumbler

tumblerful

ˈtəm-blər-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of tumbler in a Sentence

She drank a tumbler of water.

a gymnast who's a skillful tumbler

Recent Examples on the Web

The Pioneer Woman tumbler comes to my rescue, though, and keeps my tea significantly hot throughout my morning. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 June 2024

Hydro Flask: Hydro Flask is offering 25 percent off the brand's popular water bottles, tumblers, and coolers now through May 27. —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 May 2024

Roughly $500 of the grant money will go toward buying compost tumblers to help fertilize a community garden at Argonaut Park, land owned by the school district and adjacent to the high school. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024

Caudle said it will be prepared in a high-end popping machine with a tumbler to evenly coat the kernels with hot butter in a variety of flavors, including red-hot Ghost Pepper Popcorn. —Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tumbler

noun

tum·​bler ˈtəm-blər 

1

: a person (as an acrobat) who tumbles

2

: a pigeon that often tumbles backward in flight

3

: a drinking glass

a water tumbler

4

: a movable part in a lock that must be adjusted (as by a key) before the lock will open