TUMBLE | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English (as a verb, also in the sense ‘dance with contortions’): from Middle Low German tummelen; compare with Old English tumbian ‘to dance’. The sense was probably influenced by Old French tomber ‘to fall’. The noun, first in the sense ‘tangled mass’, dates from the mid 17th century

fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong

fall suddenly or headlong

• she pitched forward, tumbling down the remaining stairs

perform acrobatic feats, typically handsprings and somersaults in the air.

perform acrobatic feats

dry (washing) in a tumble dryer

dry washing in tumble dryer

• the machine gentle tumbles the clothes in cool air for ten minutes

understand the meaning or hidden implication of (a situation)

understand meaning or hidden implication of

• she'll ring again as soon as she tumbles to what she's done

have sex with

have sex with

• he was tumbling a strange woman

clean (castings, gemstones, etc.) in a tumbling barrel.

clean (castings, gemstones, etc.) in tumbling barrel

a sudden or headlong fall

sudden or headlong fall

• I took a tumble in the nettles

a handspring, somersault in the air, or other acrobatic feat.

handspring, somersault in air, or other acrobatic feat

an act or instance of having sex.

act of having sex

a friendly sign of recognition, acknowledgement, or interest

friendly sign of recognition or interest

• not a soul gave him a tumble