rumble
/ˈrʌmbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈrʌmbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrəm-bəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈrʌm.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈrʌm.bəl/ (ame, ipa)
rumble — verb
- rumblepresent simple I / you / we / they
- rumbleshe / she / it
- rumbledpast simple
- rumbling-ing form
1. to make a low, heavy, continuous sound, like the noise of thunder, a train, or a
to make a low, heavy, continuous sound, like the noise of thunder, a train, or an empty stomach
Thunder rumbled across the valley just before the first drops of rain began to fall.
rumble + across/through for sound movement
Yuki's stomach rumbled loudly during the chemistry exam, and a few classmates turned around to look.
stomach + rumble for hunger or digestion
A long line of heavy trucks rumbled along the dusty road outside the village every morning.
The ground beneath their feet rumbled as the earthquake shook the entire building.
In the distance the old train rumbled slowly over the iron bridge above the river.
文法句型
rumble + along/across/through [place]
2. to discover the truth about someone's secret or dishonest activities
to discover the truth about someone's secret or dishonest activities
The police rumbled the gang's plan to rob the bank before they could carry it out.
rumble + plan / scheme for discovering a secret plot
Deepa was rumbled when her manager found the missing documents inside her desk drawer.
passive: be rumbled
The teacher rumbled the students who had been copying answers from each other's tests all term.
Samir tried to hide his real identity for months, but his neighbours eventually rumbled him.
文法句型
rumble + noun phrase (the plan, the scam)
be rumbled
用法筆記
This sense is most common in British informal English and is often used in the passive form ('get rumbled' or 'be rumbled'). It typically refers to discovering dishonest or secret behaviour.
常見錯誤
3. to take part in a physical fight, especially one between groups or gangs
to take part in a physical fight, especially one between groups or gangs
The two rival groups rumbled in the schoolyard after the final bell rang for the day.
rumble with / between groups for gang fights
Diego and his friends used to rumble with another gang for control of the basketball court.
The old film shows how street gangs rumbled in the city during the 1960s.
文法句型
rumble with [group]
rumble + adverb (outside, in the street)
用法筆記
This sense originated in American street slang of the mid-20th century and is now somewhat dated. It refers specifically to group fighting (gangs, rival groups), not to one-on-one fights between individuals.
rumble — noun
- rumblesingular
- rumblesplural
1. a low, heavy, continuous noise that goes on for a period of time, like the sound
a low, heavy, continuous noise that goes on for a period of time, like the sound of thunder, a distant train, or a heavy machine
The campers heard the low rumble of thunder growing closer as the dark storm clouds rolled in.
rumble of + noun (thunder, train, engine)
A faint rumble came from the kitchen, where the old washing machine was spinning a load of clothes.
The constant rumble of the subway trains could be felt through the floor of the basement flat.
Miriam woke up to the muffled rumble of traffic on the motorway a few blocks away from her hotel.
2. a noisy physical fight between groups of people, especially street gangs
a noisy physical fight between groups of people, especially street gangs
The fight started as a small argument but quickly turned into a full rumble between the two groups.
a rumble between [groups] for gang fights
There was a big rumble outside the stadium after the football match ended late at night.
The two gangs had been planning a rumble for weeks before the police arrived and stopped them.
- brawl
a more general term for any noisy, disorderly fight
- gang fight
a more neutral and descriptive term for the same thing
- fracas
formal; a noisy, confused disturbance involving several people
用法筆記
This noun sense is closely related to verb sense 3 (FIGHT). It is associated with 1950s–60s American youth culture (e.g. the film 'West Side Story') and sounds somewhat dated today.