somersault

or som·er·set sum·mer·sault, sum·mer·set

[ suhm-er-sawlt ]
See synonyms for: somersaultsomersaultedsomersaultingsomersaults on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an acrobatic movement, either forward or backward, in which the body rolls end over end, making a complete revolution.

  2. such a movement performed in the air as part of a dive, tumbling routine, etc.

  1. a complete overturn or reversal, as of opinion.

verb (used without object)
  1. to perform a somersault.

Origin of somersault

1
1520–30; <Middle French sombresaut, alteration of sobresault; compare Old Provençal sobre over (<Latin super), saut a leap (<Latin saltus)

Words Nearby somersault

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use somersault in a sentence

  • Anything more complicated than a somersault looks like a cutscene from a PlayStation game.

  • This, and no other, is the explanation of that remarkable somersault in Napoleon's diplomacy which followed in the next few weeks.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
  • This was apparently a complete somersault, for it meant that either Alexander must yield or the alliance would be jeopardized.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
  • At any rate he tripped on the edge of a rug, almost turned a somersault, blacked his eye and cried for half an hour.

    The Boy Grew Older | Heywood Broun
  • Your abolition government may turn a somersault some fine morning.

    Left on Labrador | Charles Asbury Stephens
  • And with the recovery of the name Quin's mind did another somersault.

    Quin | Alice Hegan Rice

British Dictionary definitions for somersault

somersault

summersault

/ (ˈsʌməˌsɔːlt) /


noun
    • a forward roll in which the head is placed on the ground and the trunk and legs are turned over it

    • a similar roll in a backward direction

  1. an acrobatic feat in which either of these rolls are performed in midair, as in diving or gymnastics

  1. a complete reversal of opinion, policy, etc

verb
  1. (intr) to perform a somersault

Origin of somersault

1
C16: from Old French soubresault, probably from Old Provençal sobresaut, from sobre over (from Latin super) + saut a jump, leap (from Latin saltus)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012