somersault

Or som·er·set

[suhm-er-sawlt]

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.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to perform a somersault.

somersault

/ ˈsʌməˌsɔːlt /

noun

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

   2. a similar roll in a backward direction

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

3. a complete reversal of opinion, policy, etc

verb

1. (intr) to perform a somersault

Word History and Origins

Origin of somersault¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of somersault¹

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

Example Sentences

After a Red Bull aerobatic helicopter improbably flipped over its rotor and pulled itself out of a dive at the last second, a group of children near the shore started imitating the maneuver in somersaults.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Children somersaulted into a pool as adults sipped cocktails and dined on burgers, blue- and orange-striped umbrellas shielding them from the summer sun.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Brady Hummel was so wide open he could have done a somersault.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ever the showman, he celebrated with a somersault.

Read more on BBC

It somersaulted and landed upside down, before righting itself upon landing.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bounce 
• bound 
• dive 
• drop 
• fall 
• hop 
• plummet 
• skip 
• surge 
• take 
• top 
• vault