jumble

Etymology

From Middle English jumbelen, alteration of jumbren, jombren, a variant of jumpren, frequentative of jumpen (“to jump”), equal to jump +‎ -le. More at jumber, jump, jumper.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /dʒʌmbəl/

• Audio (US)

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  Rhymes: -ʌmbəl

Verb

jumble (third-person singular simple present jumbles, present participle jumbling, simple past and past participle jumbled)

1. (transitive) to mix or confuse
   • Burton

     Why dost thou blend and jumble such inconsistencies together?

   • Tennyson

     Every clime and age jumbled together.

2. (intransitive) to meet or unite in a confused way

Noun

jumble (plural jumbles)

1. A mixture of unrelated things.
2. (Britain) Items for a rummage sale.
3. (archaic) A small, thin, sugared cake, usually ring-shaped.

See also

• jumble sale