rumble Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a loud low dull continuous noise
rumbling; grumble; grumbling.
- they heard the rumbling of thunder
noun a servant's seat (or luggage compartment) in the rear of a carriage
noun a fight between rival gangs of adolescents
gang fight.
verb make a low noise
grumble.
- rumbling thunder
verb to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
growl; grumble.
- he grumbled a rude response
- Stones grumbled down the cliff

OE. romblen, akin to D. rommeln, G. rumpeln, Dan. rumle; cf. Icel. rumja to roar.

To make a low, heavy, continued sound; as, the thunder rumbles at a distance.
In the mean while the skies 'gan rumble sore. Surrey.

The people cried and rombled up and down. Chaucer.
To murmur; to ripple.
To rumble gently down with murmur soft. Spenser.
3. to engage in a fight, usu. between street gangs.

A noisy report; rumor. Obs.
Delighting ever in rumble that is new. Chaucer.
A low, heavy, continuous sound like that made by heavy wagons or the reverberation of thunder; a confused noise; as, the rumble of a railboard train.
Clamor and rumble, and ringing and clatter. tennyson.

Merged in the rumble of awakening day. H. James.
A seat for servants, behind the body of a carriage.
Kit, well wrapped, . . . was in the rumble behind. Dickens.
A rotating cask or box in which small articles are smoothed or poliched by friction against each other.