RUMBLE


Meaning of RUMBLE in English

I. rum ‧ ble 1 /ˈrʌmb ə l/ BrE AmE verb

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Probably from early Dutch rommelen , from the sound ]

1 . [intransitive] to make a series of long low sounds, especially a long distance away from you:

We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.

2 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move slowly along while making a series of long low sounds:

We watched the tanks rumbling past the window.

3 . [intransitive] if your stomach rumbles, it makes a noise, especially because you are hungry

4 . [transitive] British English informal to find out what someone is secretly intending to do:

How did you rumble them?

5 . [intransitive and transitive] American English old-fashioned to fight with someone

rumble on phrasal verb

if a disagreement rumbles on, it continues for a long time SYN drag on :

The row about pay is still rumbling on.

II. rumble 2 BrE AmE noun [singular]

a series of long low sounds

rumble of

the low rumble of traffic in the distance

the distant rumble of gunfire

• • •

THESAURUS

■ a quiet sound

▪ hum a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation:

The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit.

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He could hear the hum of distant traffic.

▪ rustle a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together:

She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her.

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the rustle of silk dresses

▪ murmur a quiet low continuous sound, especially from people’s voices that are far away:

The murmur of voices died away.

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They spoke in a low murmur.

▪ rumble a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or ↑ thunder :

I heard a rumble of thunder.

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the low rumble of a train approaching

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.