tum|ble

tum|ble «TUHM buhl», verb, -bled, -bling, noun.

–v.i.

1. to fall headlong or in a helpless way, as from stumbling or violence; be precipitated: »

The child tumbled down the stairs.

2. to fall prone; fall (down) to the ground.

3. to stumble by tripping (over an object).

4. (of a building or structure) to fall in ruins; collapse.

5. Figurative. to fall rapidly in value, amount, or price (used especially of stocks).

6. to roll or throw oneself about in a restless way; toss: »

The sick child tumbled restlessly in his bed.

7. to roll about on the ground, or in the water or air; pitch; wallow.

8. to move in a hurried or awkward way; proceed hastily, without apparent order or premeditation: »

He tumbled out of bed. The occupants tumbled out of the burning building. Tumble into bed and go to sleep (Charles J. Lever).

9. to perform leaps, springs, somersaults, or other feats of agility, without the aid of gymnasium apparatus.

10. Obsolete. to dance with posturing, balancing, and contortions.

–v.t.

1. to throw over or down; cause to tumble: »

The strong winds tumbled a tree in our yard.

2. to turn over; disorder; rumple; muss: »

to tumble bedclothes.

3. to polish in a tumbling box or tumbler.

–n.

1. an act of tumbling; a fall by tumbling: »

The tumble hurt him badly.

2. an acrobatic leap, spring, somersault or similar feat: »

to perform tumbles.

3. tumbled condition; confusion; disorder: »

His desk was a complete tumble of papers.

╂[Middle English tumbelen (frequentative) < Old English tumbian to dance about]