/ ˈtʌmbl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to fall downwards, often hitting the ground several times, but usually without serious injury; to make sb/sth fall in this way :
[ v ]
He slipped and tumbled down the stairs.
[also vn ]
2.
[ v ] tumble (down) to fall suddenly and in a dramatic way :
The scaffolding came tumbling down.
( figurative )
World records tumbled at the last Olympics.
—see also tumbledown
3.
[ v ] to fall rapidly in value or amount :
The price of oil is still tumbling.
4.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move or fall somewhere in a relaxed, uncontrolled, or noisy way :
A group of noisy children tumbled out of the bus.
Thick golden curls tumbled down over her shoulders.
( figurative )
5.
[ v ] to perform acrobatics on the floor, especially somersaults (= a jump in which you turn over completely in the air)
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- tumble to sth/sb
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] a sudden fall :
The jockey took a nasty tumble at the third fence.
Share prices took a sharp tumble following news of the merger.
—see also rough and tumble
2.
[ sing. ] tumble (of sth) an untidy group of things :
a tumble of blond curls
••
WORD ORIGIN
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 cent.