TUMBLE


Meaning of TUMBLE in English

■ verb

1》 fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong.

↘perform acrobatic feats, typically handsprings and somersaults.

2》 decrease rapidly in amount or value.

3》 dry in a ~ dryer.

4》 rumple; disarrange.

5》 ( ~ to ) informal come to understand; realize: he's ~d to the fact that he was deceived.

6》 informal have sex with.

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

■ noun

1》 an instance of tumbling.

2》 an untidy or confused arrangement or state.

3》 a handspring or other acrobatic feat.

4》 US informal a friendly sign of recognition or interest.

Origin

ME (also in the sense 'dance with contortions'): from Mid. Low Ger. tummelen ; cf. OE tumbian 'to dance'; prob. influenced by OFr. tomber 'to fall'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.