- tumble
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/tum"beuhl/, v., tumbled, tumbling, n.v.i.1. to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong: to tumble down the stairs.2. to roll end over end, as in falling: The stones tumbled down the hill.3. to fall or decline rapidly; drop: Prices on the stock market tumbled today.4. to perform gymnastic feats of skill and agility, as leaps or somersaults.5. to fall suddenly from a position of power or authority; suffer overthrow: As one dictator tumbles, another is rising to take his place.6. to fall in ruins, as from age or decay; collapse; topple: The walls of the old mansion tumbled down upon the intruders.7. to roll about by turning one way and another; pitch about; toss.8. to stumble or fall (usually fol. by over): to tumble over a sled.9. to go, come, get, etc., in a hasty and confused way: The people tumbled out of the theater. He tumbled hurriedly into his clothes.10. Informal. to understand or become aware of some fact or circumstance (often fol. by to): He finally tumbled to what they were doing.11. Rocketry. (of a missile) to rotate without control end over end.v.t.12. to cause to fall or roll end over end; throw over or down.13. to throw or toss about; cause disarray, as in handling or searching.14. to put in a disordered or rumpled condition.15. to throw, cast, put, send, etc., in a precipitate, hasty, or rough manner.16. to cause to fall from a position of authority or power; overthrow; topple: They tumbled him from his throne.17. to cause to fall or collapse in ruins: The wreckers tumbled the walls of the building.18. to subject to the action of a tumbling box.n.19. an act of tumbling or falling.20. a gymnastic or acrobatic feat.21. an accidental fall; spill.22. a drop in value, as of stocks.23. a fall from a position of power or authority: The great director took a tumble when he was replaced by a newcomer.24. a response indicating interest, affection, etc.: She wouldn't give me a tumble.25. tumbled condition; disorder or confusion.26. a confused heap: a tumble of papers, ashes, pens, and keys on the desk.27. Chiefly New Eng. a haycock.28. take a tumble to, Australian Slang. to come to understand.[1250-1300; ME tum(b)len to dance in acrobatic style (c. D tuimelen, LG tummeln), freq. of ME tomben, OE tumbian, (c. ON tumba, akin to OHG tumon to reel (perh. < OLG); cf. F tomber to fall < Gmc); see -LE]
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Universalium. 2010.