tumbler
C1Both everyday (for the glass) and specialized (for performer/lock/pigeon). The glass sense is most common in general use.
Definition
Meaning
A drinking glass with no handle or stem; a heavy-bottomed glass designed not to tip over easily.
Also refers to a person who performs acrobatic rolls and somersaults, a type of lock mechanism where pins must align to open, and a breed of pigeon known for aerial tumbling.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The connection between the senses lies in the action of 'tumbling' – the glass has a rounded bottom that makes it tumble or rock, the performer tumbles, the lock mechanism 'tumbles' pins into place, and the pigeon tumbles in flight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The drinking glass sense is used in both varieties. In AmE, 'tumbler' can more specifically imply a glass for cold, non-alcoholic drinks (like water or iced tea), whereas in BrE it's a more general term for a flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem.
Connotations
Slightly more old-fashioned or formal in BrE for the glass sense; 'glass' or specific names (highball, old-fashioned) are often used. In AmE, it remains a standard, functional term, especially for sets of basic glasses.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE for the drinking vessel. The 'performer' sense is equally low-frequency and specialized in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[fill/pour] + [something] + into + a tumblerdrink + from + a tumblera tumbler + of + [liquid]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Turn tumbler (rare: to drink heavily).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except perhaps in manufacturing/retail contexts (e.g., 'tumbler production line').
Academic
Rare. Might appear in history (tumbler locks), ornithology (tumbler pigeons), or performance studies.
Everyday
Common for the drinking vessel, especially in home/kitchen contexts.
Technical
Specific in locksmithing (tumbler lock mechanism) and ornithology (tumbler pigeon breed).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- She fetched a tumbler from the cupboard for her whisky.
- The antique desk had a simple tumbler lock.
- The circus featured a troupe of expert tumblers.
American English
- He filled the tumbler with ice water from the dispenser.
- We need to rekey the tumbler in the front door.
- The gymnast trained for years to become an elite tumbler.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drink water from a blue tumbler.
- The child watched the tumbler at the circus.
- Could you pass me that empty tumbler, please?
- A tumbler lock is more secure than a simple latch.
- The bartender reached for a heavy-based tumbler to make the old-fashioned.
- The mechanism relies on a series of pin tumblers aligning at the shear line.
- His collection included Victorian cut-glass tumblers of various sizes.
- The breed, known as the Parlor Tumbler, is prized for its unique rolling flight pattern.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a glass that 'tumbles' if you push it, but its flat, heavy base makes it rock back upright.
Conceptual Metaphor
STABILITY THROUGH WEIGHT/LOW CENTRE (the glass); CONTROLLED CHAOS/FALLING (the performer).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'стакан' (glass) in all contexts – 'tumbler' is a specific type. The performer sense is 'акробат', not directly 'tumbler'. The lock sense is a technical term ('штифтовой механизм').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tumbler' for any glass (e.g., a wine glass). Spelling: 'tumber'. Pronunciation: /ˈtʌmbələr/ (adding an extra schwa).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as a 'tumbler'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A tumbler is a specific type of cup/glass: usually straight-sided, without a handle or stem, and often with a thick, heavy bottom. A 'cup' is a more general term.
Yes, but it's a specialized term for an acrobat who performs tumbling moves (rolls, flips). In everyday conversation, 'gymnast' or 'acrobat' is more common.
Both are stemless drinking glasses. A highball is typically tall and narrow, for drinks with mixers (like gin & tonic). A tumbler is a broader category; a short, wide tumbler is often called an 'old-fashioned glass'.
Historically, some drinking glasses had rounded or pointed bottoms, so they would 'tumble' over if set down, encouraging the drinker to finish the contents. Modern tumblers have flat bottoms but kept the name.