English Dictionary

Definition of “rumble”

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rumble (ˈrʌmbəllPronunciation for rumble) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to make or cause to make a deep resonant sound  ⇒ thunder rumbled in the sky 
  2. to move with such a sound  ⇒ the train rumbled along 
  3. (tr) to utter with a rumbling sound  ⇒ he rumbled an order 
  4. (tr) to tumble (metal components, gemstones, etc) in a barrel of smooth stone in order to polish them
  5. (tr) British informal to find out about (someone or something); discover (something)  ⇒ the police rumbled their plans 
  6. (intr) US slang to be involved in a gang fight

noun

  1. a deep resonant sound
  2. a widespread murmur of discontent
  3. another name for tumbler (sense 4)
  4. US Canadian New Zealand slang a gang fight

Alternative Forms

ˈrumbler noun ˈrumbling adjective ˈrumblingly adverb

Word Origin

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch rummelen ; related to German rummeln, rumpeln

Usage examples

  • The silence of the night was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic, the occasional wail of a police or ambulance siren.
    Hinxman, Margaret, The Sound of Murder (1986)
  • The repercussions from Sunday's fracas look set to rumble on for some time.
    Spiked (2003)
  • The rumble of the fighter plane that helped decide the outcome of World War II.
    Ottawa Sun (2003)
  • I assure Mr McAulay that my bairn would be of far more use to him in a rumble than I would.
    Glasgow Herald (2002)
  • Then the rumble of the sash window shudders through the walls.
    Alexander Masters, STUART: A Life Backwards (2005)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'R'

Related Terms

3 results

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