tumble meaning and definition

TUMBLE noun

Definition of tumble (noun)

1. an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end
2. a sudden drop from an upright position
   • "he had a nasty spill on the ice"
   • synonyms: fall, spill

TUMBLE verb

Definition of tumble (verb)

1. fall down, as if collapsing
   • "The tower of the World Trade Center tumbled after the plane hit it"
   • synonyms: topple
2. cause to topple or tumble by pushing
   • synonyms: tip, topple
3. roll over and over, back and forth
4. fly around
   • "The clothes tumbled in the dryer"; "rising smoke whirled in the air"
   • synonyms: whirl, whirl around
5. fall apart
   • "the building crumbled after the explosion"; "Negotiations broke down"
   • synonyms: break down, collapse, crumble, crumple
6. throw together in a confused mass
   • "They tumbled the teams with no apparent pattern"
7. understand, usually after some initial difficulty
   • "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on"
   • synonyms: catch on, cotton on, get it, get onto, get wise, latch on, twig
8. fall suddenly and sharply
   • "Prices tumbled after the devaluation of the currency"
9. put clothes in a tumbling barrel, where they are whirled about in hot air, usually with the purpose of drying
   • "Wash in warm water and tumble dry"
10. suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat
11. do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully