tumble

Meanings

• an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end
• a sudden drop from an upright position
• fall down, as if collapsing
  • "The tower of the World Trade Center tumbled after the plane hit it"
• cause to topple or tumble by pushing
• roll over and over, back and forth
• fly around
  • "The clothes tumbled in the dryer"
• fall apart
• throw together in a confused mass
  • "They tumbled the teams with no apparent pattern"
• understand, usually after some initial difficulty
• fall suddenly and sharply
  • "Prices tumbled after the devaluation of the currency"
• 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"
• suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat
• do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully

Synonyms

break down, catch on, collapse, cotton on, crumble, crumple, fall, get it, get onto, get wise, latch on, spill, tip, topple, twig, whirl, whirl around