jumbles

IPA/ˈdʒʌm.bəl/
IPA/ˈdʒʌm.bəl/

jumbles — noun

1. several piles or groups of objects, feelings, or ideas that have lost their orde

1.名詞C1
釋義

several piles or groups of objects, feelings, or ideas that have lost their order and are hard to sort out.

例句

Old cables and torn maps lay in jumbles under the basement stairs.

lie in jumbles

After the emergency call, Liang's notes and plans were left in jumbles.

同義詞
  • messes

    the broad everyday plural word for untidy or confused situations

  • mix-ups

    often points to mistakes or things being put with the wrong ones

  • muddles

    more often used for confused thinking or planning

反義詞
  • order

    suggests things are kept arranged and easy to follow

文法句型

in jumbles

jumbles of + plural noun

leave something in jumbles

用法筆記

Often used after in, or with of when you name what has become mixed. Unlike noun sense 2, it describes disorder itself, not goods prepared for sale.

常見錯誤

Her papers were a jumbles on the desk.
Her papers were in jumbles on the desk.
💡this use normally appears in a plural phrase, not after 'a'.
My ideas were jumbles after the meeting.
My ideas were in jumbles after the meeting.
💡use the fixed phrase 'in jumbles' for this state.

2. used items collected to sell at a British charity event called a jumble sale.

2.名詞C2
釋義

used items collected to sell at a British charity event called a jumble sale.

例句

The church hall smelled of soap as volunteers sorted the jumbles.

the jumbles — British sale goods

Femi found winter boots among the jumbles before the doors opened.

同義詞
  • second-hand goods

    neutral wording for used items in general, not only at charity sales

  • sale items

    broader and does not imply donated goods

文法句型

sort the jumbles

price the jumbles

find something among the jumbles

用法筆記

British and usually plural. It names the donated things on the tables, not the fund-raising event where people buy them.

常見錯誤

The school held some jumbles on Saturday.
The school held a jumble sale on Saturday.
💡'jumbles' names the goods, not the event.
She donated jumble to the church.
She donated jumbles to the church sale.
💡this meaning is normally used in the plural.

3. small sweet biscuits or little cakes that are usually thin and shaped like rings

3.名詞C2
釋義

small sweet biscuits or little cakes that are usually thin and shaped like rings.

例句

Eve arranged the sugared jumbles beside lemon tarts for the fair.

sugared jumbles

The baker packed warm jumbles into a tin lined with paper.

同義詞
  • cookies

    the broad American term for sweet baked biscuits

  • biscuits

    the broader British term, without the ring-shape idea

文法句型

bake jumbles

a plate of jumbles

recipe for jumbles

用法筆記

Usually found in recipe names or lists of baked goods rather than in everyday talk about snacks.

常見錯誤

She baked jumble for tea.
She baked jumbles for tea.
💡this food name is usually plural.
We bought jumbles biscuits at the fair.
We bought jumbles at the fair.
💡the noun already names the biscuits.

jumbles — verb