noun
tumbler
TUHMBL
noun
1
A flat-bottomed drinking glass without a stem, foot, or handle.
"He poured the whisky into a heavy crystal tumbler."
2
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 notesIn 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.