noun

tumbler

TUHMBL

Tumbler (noun) means a flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem, foot, or handle. Example: “He poured the whisky into a heavy crystal tumbler.”

noun

A flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem, foot, or handle.

"He poured the whisky into a heavy crystal tumbler."

A moving part inside a lock that must be aligned by the correct key before the bolt will open.

"The locksmith explained how each tumbler had to line up for the key to turn."

How to use tumbler

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA short, straight-sided drinking glass, or a moving part inside a lock mechanism.

Common pairings

whisky tumbler lock tumbler

Word forms

tumblers plural

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He poured the whisky into a heavy crystal _____.

Etymology

From tumble + -er. The drinking-glass sense comes from early versions of the glass having a rounded or pointed base, so it would "tumble" over if set down before being emptied — forcing the drinker to finish it in one go.

Synonyms

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roller tumbler pigeon

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tumbler” mean?

The word “tumbler” means a flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem, foot, or handle. In plain terms, a short, straight-sided drinking glass, or a moving part inside a lock mechanism.

How do you pronounce “tumbler”?

“Tumbler” is pronounced TUHMBL (/ˈtʌmblɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “tumbler” in a sentence?

Here is “tumbler” used in a sentence: “He poured the whisky into a heavy crystal tumbler.”

What part of speech is “tumbler”?

“Tumbler” is a noun.

How many meanings does “tumbler” have?

“Tumbler” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem, foot, or handle.

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