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Grumble vs Tumble - What's the difference?

grumble | tumble |

As nouns the difference between grumble and tumble

is that grumble is (onomatopoeia) a low thundering, rumbling or growling sound while tumble is a fall.

As verbs the difference between grumble and tumble

is that grumble is to make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals while tumble is (lb) to fall end over end.

grumble

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (onomatopoeia) A low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
  • The sound made by a hungry stomach.
  • A complaint.
  • That whiner is never without a grumble to share.

    Derived terms

    * grumbly

    Verb

    (grumbl)
  • To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
  • The distant thunder grumbles .
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1995 , author=Terry C. Johnston , title=Dance on the Wind , page=15 , passage=It made his stomach grumble in protest to think the mule was eating, and here he was worrying about her with an empty belly of his own.}}
  • To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
  • He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
  • To utter in a grumbling fashion.
  • * 2001 , Harry Willcox Pfanz, Gettysburg — the first day?
  • He grumbled that there was no grain "in the country" and that people were talking instead of working to provide it.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * grumbler

    See also

    * rumble English reporting verbs

    tumble

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fall.
  • I took a tumble down the stairs and broke my tooth.
  • An act of sexual intercourse.
  • * John Betjeman, Group Life: Letchworth
  • Wouldn't it be jolly now, / To take our Aertex panters off / And have a jolly tumble in / The jolly, jolly sun?
  • * 1979 , Martine, Sexual Astrology (page 219)
  • When you've just had a tumble between the sheets and are feeling rumpled and lazy, she may want to get up so she can make the bed.

    Derived terms

    * rough and tumble * take a tumble * tumble dryer * tumbler * give a tumble

    Verb

    (tumbl)
  • (lb) To fall end over end.
  • *(Robert South) (1634–1716)
  • *:He who tumbles from a tower surely has a greater blow than he who slides from a molehill.
  • *
  • *:“Heavens!” exclaimed Nina, “the blue-stocking and the fogy!—and yours are'' pale blue, Eileen!—you’re about as self-conscious as Drina—slumping there with your hair tumbling ''à la Mérode! Oh, it's very picturesque, of course, but a straight spine and good grooming is better.”
  • To perform gymnastics such as somersaults, rolls, and handsprings.
  • :(Rowe)
  • To roll over and over.
  • *1908 , (Kenneth Grahame), (The Wind in the Willows)
  • *:The two animals tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get inside, and heard the door shut behind them with great joy and relief.
  • (lb) To have sexual intercourse.
  • (lb) To smooth and polish a rough surface on relatively small parts.
  • To muss, to make disorderly; to tousle or rumple.
  • :
  • Derived terms

    * tumble to