tumble

tumble
verb
  1. [no obj., with adverbial](typically of a person) fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong
    (尤指人)突然地(或笨拙地、头朝下地)跌倒
    she pitched forward, tumbling down the remaining stairs.
    她向前一倾,从剩下几级楼梯上滚了下来。
    ■move or rush in a headlong or uncontrolled way
    跌跌撞撞(或无拘束)地走,冲
    police and dogs tumbled from the vehicle.
    警察与狗匆忙地冲下了车。
    ■(of something abstract) fall rapidly in amount or value
    (指抽象事物的数量或价值)暴跌
    property prices tumbled.
    地产价暴跌。
    ■[with obj.]dry (washing) in a tumble-dryer
    用滚筒干燥机甩干
    ■[with obj.]rumple; disarrange
    弄乱;弄皱
    [as adj. tumbled]his tumbled bedclothes.
    他那弄皱了的床单。
    ■[with obj.](informal)have sexual intercourse with (someone)
    (非正式)做爱
  2. [no obj.](tumble to)(informal)understand the meaning or hidden implication of (a situation)
    (非正式)明白,领悟,洞悉
    she'll ring again as soon as she tumbles to what she's done.
    一旦她明白她所做的事情,她会再打电话过来的。
  3. [no obj.]perform acrobatic feats, typically handsprings and somersaults in the air
    表演翻跟头
    ■(of a breed of pigeon) repeatedly turn over backwards in flight
    (翻头鸽)在飞翔中不断后翻
  4. [with obj.]clean (castings, gemstones, etc.) in a tumbling barrel
    用滚净筒把(铸件、宝石矿石等)弄干净
noun
  1. a sudden or headlong fall
    突然跌倒;头朝下跌倒
    I took a tumble in the nettles.
    我跌倒在荨麻上。
    ■a rapid fall in amount or value
    (数量、价值)暴跌
    a tumble in share prices.
    股价大跌。
    ■an untidy or confused arrangement or state
    混乱;杂乱
    her hair was a tumble of untamed curls.
    她的卷发乱作一团。
    ■(informal)an act of sexual intercourse
    (非正式)性交
    ■a handspring, somersault in the air, or other acrobatic feat
    翻跟头
  2. (US informal)a friendly sign of recognition, acknowledgement, or interest
    (美,非正式)(表认可、感激或感兴趣的)示好
    not a soul gave him a tumble.
    没有一个人向他示好。
语源
  1. Middle English (as a verb, also in the sense 'dance with contortions'): from Middle Low German tummelen; compare with Old English tumbian 'to dance'. The sense was probably influenced by Old French tomber 'to fall'. The noun, first in the sense 'tangled mass', dates from the mid 17th cent
英语宝典
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