I. ˈtəm-bəl verb
( 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 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
II. noun
Date: 1634
1.
a. : a disordered mass of objects or material
b. : a disorderly state
2. : an act or instance of tumbling