tumble

(noun) an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end.

(noun) a sudden drop from an upright position. Synonyms: spill, fall. Examples: "He had a nasty spill on the ice."

(verb) fall down, as if collapsing. Synonyms: topple. Examples: "The tower of the world trade center tumbled after the plane hit it."

(verb) cause to topple or tumble by pushing. Synonyms: topple, tip.

(verb) roll over and over, back and forth.

(verb) fly around. Synonyms: whirl, whirl around. Examples: "The clothes tumbled in the dryer." "Rising smoke whirled in the air."

(verb) fall apart. Synonyms: crumble, crumple, break down, collapse. Examples: "The building crumbled after the explosion." "Negotiations broke down."

(verb) throw together in a confused mass. Examples: "They tumbled the teams with no apparent pattern."

(verb) understand, usually after some initial difficulty. Synonyms: catch on, get wise, get onto, latch on, cotton on, twig, get it. Examples: "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on."

(verb) fall suddenly and sharply. Examples: "Prices tumbled after the devaluation of the currency."

(verb) put clothes in a tumbling barrel, where they are whirled about in hot air, usually with the purpose of drying. Examples: "Wash in warm water and tumble dry."

(verb) suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat.

(verb) do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully.