rumble

American  

[ruhm-buhl] / ˈrʌm bəl /

verb (used without object)

rumbled, rumbling

1. to make a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound, as thunder.

   Synonyms:

   boom, roll, thunder, roar

2. to move or travel with such a sound.

   The train rumbled on.

3. Slang. to have or take part in a street fight between or among teenage gangs.

   Rival gangs rumbled on Saturday afternoon.

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verb (used with object)

rumbled, rumbling

1. to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound.

   to rumble a command.

2. to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound.

   to rumble a wagon over the ground.

3. to subject to the action of a rumble or tumbling box, as for the purpose of polishing.

noun

1. a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound.

   the rumble of tanks across a bridge.

2. rumble seat.

3. a rear part of a carriage containing seating accommodations, as for servants, or space for baggage.

4. a tumbling box.

5. Slang. a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

rumble British  

/ ˈrʌmbəl /

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. informal (tr) to find out about (someone or something); discover (something)

   the police rumbled their plans

6. slang (intr) to be involved in a gang fight

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noun

1. a deep resonant sound

2. a widespread murmur of discontent

3. another name for tumbler

4. slang a gang fight

Other Word Forms

• rumbler noun
• rumbling adjective
• rumblingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of rumble

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb romblen, rumblen; compare Dutch rommelen, probably imitative of the sound; 1940–45 rumble for def. 3

Example Sentences

I could hear people talking and the rumble of wagons and teams moving along the street.

From Literature

Basil, celery, onions, meat, and other smells reached my nose and made my stomach rumble.

From Literature

Along Egypt's Mediterranean coast, the oldest tram in Africa and the Middle East rumbles for a final few weeks before its removal -- the latest urban upheaval Alexandrians say is hollowing out their city's identity.

From Barron's

Dystopian military vehicles straight out of Mad Max rumble past, encased in their own cages of steel and netting.

From BBC

In that moment, as Scotland rumbled off a close-range lineout, the giant screens flashed a message for the Welsh fans: "Get louder," it demanded.

From BBC

Related Words

• resound
• roar