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tumble (v.)

c. 1300, "to perform as an acrobat," also "to fall down," perhaps from a frequentative form of Old English tumbian "dance about, tumble, leap." This is of unknown origin but apparently related to Middle Low German tummelen "to turn, dance," Dutch tuimelen "to tumble," Old High German tumon, German taumeln "to turn, reel." Transitive sense from late 14c. Related: Tumbled; tumbling.

tumble (n.)

"accidental fall," 1716, from tumble (v.). Earlier as "disorder, confusion" (1630s).

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Definitions of tumble from WordNet
1
tumble (v.)
fall down, as if collapsing;
The tower of the World Trade Center tumbled after the plane hit it
Synonyms: topple
tumble (v.)
cause to topple or tumble by pushing;
Synonyms: topple / tip
tumble (v.)
roll over and over, back and forth;
tumble (v.)
fly around;
The clothes tumbled in the dryer
Synonyms: whirl / whirl around
tumble (v.)
fall apart;
Synonyms: crumble / crumple / break down / collapse
tumble (v.)
throw together in a confused mass;
They tumbled the teams with no apparent pattern
tumble (v.)
understand, usually after some initial difficulty;
Synonyms: catch on / get wise / get onto / latch on / cotton on / twig / get it
tumble (v.)
fall suddenly and sharply;
Prices tumbled after the devaluation of the currency
tumble (v.)
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
tumble (v.)
suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat;
tumble (v.)
do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully;
2
tumble (n.)
an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end;
tumble (n.)
a sudden drop from an upright position;
Synonyms: spill / fall
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near tumble

tugboat

Tuileries

tuition

tulip

tulle

tumble

tumble-down

tumbler

tumbleweed

tumbrel

tumefaction

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