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Tumbledown: meaning, definitions and examples

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tumbledown

 

[ ˈtʌmbəldaʊn ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

dilapidated state

Tumbledown describes a state of ruin or disrepair, often used to refer to buildings or structures that are dilapidated and falling apart. It conveys a sense of neglect and deterioration.

Synonyms

decayed, decrepit, dilapidated, ruined

Examples of usage

  • The tumbledown cottage looks abandoned.
  • We discovered a tumbledown barn on the property.
  • They decided to renovate the tumbledown house they inherited.

Translations

Translations of the word "tumbledown" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desmoronado

🇮🇳 खस्ताहाल

🇩🇪 verfallen

🇮🇩 tumbang

🇺🇦 похилений

🇵🇱 ruina

🇯🇵 崩れた

🇫🇷 décrépitude

🇪🇸 en ruinas

🇹🇷 harabe

🇰🇷 무너진

🇸🇦 متهدم

🇨🇿 zchátralý

🇸🇰 zchátraný

🇨🇳 倒塌的

🇸🇮 ruševna

🇮🇸 hrunið

🇰🇿 құлаған

🇬🇪 დანგრეული

🇦🇿 dağıntı

🇲🇽 en ruinas

Word origin

The term 'tumbledown' originates from the combination of the verb 'tumble', meaning to fall down or drop, and 'down', which emphasizes the state of being lower or in decline. The word has its roots in Old English, where 'tumbian' meant to fall or topple over. Its usage in the English language can be traced back to at least the 16th century, depicting structures that have fallen into disrepair from lack of maintenance. Over time, 'tumbledown' has evolved to describe not only physical states of buildings but also metaphorical uses, referring to anything that has deteriorated or fallen from a better condition.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,881, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.