Definition

1. Noun:
   • A drinking glass with a flat bottom, no handle, and no stem: A type of glassware traditionally used for serving various beverages, originally characterized by a rounded bottom that made it "tumble" if set down.
   • A gymnast or acrobat who performs rolls, somersaults, and twists: A person skilled in tumbling, which is a form of gymnastics involving floor exercises without apparatus.
   • A movable part in a lock mechanism: A component, usually a lever or pin, within a lock that must be aligned correctly by a key before the bolt can be moved to lock or unlock.
   • A breed of domestic pigeon: A pigeon known for its ability to perform backward somersaults in the air or on the ground.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She filled a tumbler with cold water and ice.
  • The circus featured an amazing tumbler who executed a series of flips.
  • The key aligns the tumblers inside the lock.
  • He breeds tumblers and other fancy pigeon varieties.

Advanced Usage

• "Tumbler switch": A type of electrical switch that is operated by a lever that rocks back and forth.

  • The room's light is controlled by a simple tumbler switch on the wall.

• "Tumbler dryer" (often "tumble dryer"): A machine that dries laundry by tumbling it in a rotating drum with hot air.

  • I need to put these clothes in the tumble dryer.

Variants and Related Words

• Tumble (verb): To fall suddenly and clumsily; to perform acrobatic rolls or somersaults.

  • The child might tumble off the bed.
  • Gymnasts tumble across the mat.

• Tumbling (noun): The activity or sport of performing acrobatic rolls, somersaults, and flips.

  • She practices tumbling every afternoon at the gym.

Synonyms

• Glass, cup (for the drinking vessel).
• Acrobat, gymnast (for the performer).
• Lever, pin (in the context of a lock mechanism).

Related Phrases

• Tumbler lock: A lock that uses a set of tumblers to prevent it from opening without the correct key.
  • Most traditional door locks are pin tumbler locks.

Related Idioms

• "To turn tumbler": This is not a standard idiom. The action is typically described as "tumblers falling into place" metaphorically, meaning parts of a plan or situation become clear or align correctly.
  • After hours of confusion, everything finally clicked into place like tumblers in a lock.

Noun

1. pigeon that executes backward somersaults in flight or on the ground
2. a movable obstruction in a lock that must be adjusted to a given position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown
3. a glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem; originally had a round bottom
4. a gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.