| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | Probably from early Dutch rommelen, from the sound |
1 [intransitive]CS to make a series of long low sounds, especially a long distance away from you :
We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]CS to move slowly along while making a series of long low sounds :
We watched the tanks rumbling past the window.
We watched the tanks rumbling past the window.3HBH [intransitive] if your stomach rumbles, it makes a noise, especially because you are hungry
4 [transitive] British English informal to find out what someone is secretly intending to do :
How did you rumble them?
How did you rumble them?5 [intransitive and transitive] American English old-fashioned to fight with someone
rumble on
phrasal verb
The row about pay is still rumbling on.
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