2 N‑UNCOUNT You can use tuition to refer to the amount of money that you have to pay for being taught particular subjects, especially in a university, college, or private school. □ Angela's tuition at University this year will be paid for with scholarships.
tu|lip /tjuː l I p, [AM ] tuː -/ (tulips ) N‑COUNT Tulips are brightly coloured flowers that grow in the spring, and have oval or pointed petals packed closely together. WORD HISTORY tulip
Tulip comes from Turkish tulbend , meaning 'turban', because of the shape of the flowers.
tulle /tjuː l, [AM ] tuː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Tulle is a soft nylon or silk cloth similar to net, that is used for making evening dresses.
tum /tʌ m/ (tums ) N‑COUNT Your tum is your stomach. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
tum|ble /tʌ mb ə l/ (tumbles , tumbling , tumbled )
1 VERB If someone or something tumbles somewhere, they fall there with a rolling or bouncing movement. □ [V prep/adv] A small boy tumbled off a third floor fire escape. □ [V prep/adv] He fell to the ground, and the gun tumbled out of his hand. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Tumble is also a noun. □ [+ from ] He injured his ribs in a tumble from his horse.
2 VERB If prices or levels of something are tumbling , they are decreasing rapidly. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + by/from/to ] House prices have tumbled by almost 30 per cent in real terms since mid-1989. □ [V ] Share prices continued to tumble today on the stock market. □ [V -ing] …tumbling inflation. [Also V amount] ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Tumble is also a noun. □ Oil prices took a tumble yesterday.
3 VERB If water tumbles , it flows quickly over an uneven surface. □ [V prep] Waterfalls crash and tumble over rocks. □ [V -ing] …the aromatic pines and tumbling streams of the Zonba Plateau. [Also V ]
4 VERB If you say that someone tumbles into a situation or place, you mean that they get into it without being fully in control of themselves or knowing what they are doing. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V + into ] The whole region seemed to be tumbling into crisis.
5 → see also rough and tumble
▸ tumble down PHRASAL VERB If a building tumbles down , it collapses or parts of it fall off, usually because it is old and no-one has taken care of it. □ [V P ] The outer walls looked likely to tumble down in a stiff wind.
tumble|down /tʌ mb ə ldaʊn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tumbledown building is in such a bad condition that it is partly falling down or has holes in it.
tu m|ble dry |er (tumble dryers ) also tumble drier N‑COUNT A tumble dryer is an electric machine which dries washing by turning it over and over and blowing warm air onto it. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use dryer
tum|bler /tʌ mblə r / (tumblers ) N‑COUNT A tumbler is a drinking glass with straight sides.
tumble|weed /tʌ mb ə lwiːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Tumbleweed is a plant that grows in desert areas in North America. It breaks off from its roots at the end of its life and then blows around on the ground. [AM ]
tum|my /tʌ mi/ (tummies )
1 N‑COUNT Your tummy is the part of the front of your body below your waist. Tummy is often used by children or by adults talking to children. □ Your baby's tummy should feel warm, but not hot.
2 N‑COUNT You can use tummy to refer to the parts inside your body where food is digested. Tummy is often used by children or by adults talking to children. □ It's easy to get a tummy upset from river water.
tu|mour /tjuː mə r , [AM ] tuː -/ (tumours ) in AM, use tumor N‑COUNT A tumour is a mass of diseased or abnormal cells that has grown in a person's or animal's body.
tu|mult /tjuː mʌlt, [AM ] tuː -/
1 N‑SING A tumult is a state of great confusion or excitement. □ [+ of ] A tumult of feelings inside her fought for supremacy. □ …the recent tumult in global financial markets.
2 N‑SING A tumult is a lot of noise made by a crowd of people. □ [+ of ] Round one ends, to a tumult of whistles, screams and shouts.
tu|mul|tu|ous /tjuːmʌ ltʃuəs, [AM ] tuː-/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tumultuous event or period of time involves many exciting and confusing events or feelings. □ …the tumultuous changes in the war-torn region. □ Shares were 1 per cent down after another tumultuous day at the bank.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A tumultuous reaction to something is very noisy, because the people involved are very happy or excited. □ Delegates greeted the news with tumultuous applause.
tuna /tjuː nə, [AM ] tuː nə/ (tuna or tunas ) N‑VAR Tuna or tuna fish are large fish that live in warm seas and are caught for food. ● N‑UNCOUNT Tuna or tuna fish is this fish eaten as food. □ She began opening a tin of tuna.
tun|dra /tʌ ndrə/ (tundras ) N‑VAR Tundra is one of the large flat areas of land in the north of Europe, Asia, and America. The ground below the top layer of soil is always frozen and no trees grow there.
tune ◆◇◇ /tjuː n, [AM ] tuː n/ (tunes , tuning , tuned )
1 N‑COUNT A tune is a series of musical notes that is pleasant and easy to remember. □ She was humming a merry little tune.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a song or a short piece of music as a tune . □ She'll also be playing your favourite pop tunes.
3 VERB When someone tunes a musical instrument, they adjust it so that it produces the right notes. □ [V n] 'We do tune our guitars before we go on,' he insisted. ● PHRASAL VERB Tune up means the same as tune . □ [V P n] Others were quietly tuning up their instruments.