[tum.ble] vb tum.bled ; tum.bling [ME, freq. of tumben to dance, fr. OE tumbian; akin to OHG tumon to reel] vi (14c) 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 ~ to the seriousness of the problem" ~ vt 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
[2]tumble n (1634) 1 a: a disordered mass of objects or material b: a disorderly state
2: an act or instance of tumbling