n.
Pronunciation: ' t ə m-b ə l
Function: verb
Inflected Form: tum · bled ; tum · bling \ -b( ə -)li ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English, frequentative of tumben to dance, from Old English tumbian; akin to Old High German t ū m ō n 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