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jumble

noun

/ˈdʒʌm bəl/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of jumble

To mix or combine items or elements in a disorderly or chaotic manner.
"The teacher asked the students to jumble the letters to form new words."

Detailed meaning of jumble

It implies the creation of a confused or tangled arrangement where things become intermingled and disorganized. When something is jumbled, it lacks a clear or logical order, and its components may be randomly mixed or jostled together. Jumbling can occur with physical objects, such as when items are thrown together in a haphazard manner, resulting in a messy pile or a cluttered space. Additionally, the term can also be applied metaphorically to thoughts, ideas, or information, indicating a state of confusion or muddled thinking. It suggests a lack of coherence or structure, making it difficult to understand or decipher the intended meaning. Overall, the verb "jumble" signifies the disruption of order and the creation of a jumbled, disorganized state in either a physical or metaphorical sense.

Example sentences containing jumble

1. She accidentally jumbled all the puzzle pieces together.
2. The strong wind jumbled the papers on my desk.
3. Please don't jumble the clean and dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
4. The toddler loves to jumble up the blocks and create a tower.
5. The speaker's nervousness caused their words to jumble together.
6. He hurriedly jumbled the ingredients in the mixing bowl.

History and etymology of jumble

The noun 'jumble' has an interesting etymology that traces its origins back to the Middle English word 'jumbelen' or 'jumbel,' which referred to a sweet biscuit or cake made by mixing various ingredients together. This term itself can be linked to the Old French word 'jambel,' meaning a type of fruit preserve or jam. Over time, the meaning of 'jumble' evolved, shifting from a specific culinary context to a more general sense of mixing or combining things in a disorderly or chaotic manner. This evolution of meaning reflects the way disparate ingredients were originally mixed in a 'jumble' to create a sweet treat and how the term later came to describe any haphazard mixing or confusion.

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Further usage examples of jumble

1. The computer glitch jumbled the order of the spreadsheet columns.
2. The unexpected interruption jumbled my thoughts, and I lost my train of thought.
3. The clumsy student jumbled the letters while typing the report.
4. The earthquake shook the bookshelf, causing the books to jumble and fall.
5. His messy handwriting made it difficult to read as the letters were jumbled together.
6. The jumble of wires behind the TV is a mess.
7. The garage is a chaotic jumble of tools and equipment.
8. She had to untangle the jumble of necklaces in the drawer.
9. The jumble of voices made it hard to concentrate.
10. The room was a jumble of furniture after the move.
11. The old attic was a jumble of dusty books and trinkets.
12. The puzzle pieces were in a disorganized jumble.
13. The street market displayed a colorful jumble of goods.
14. The jumble of colors in the painting was intriguing.
15. His thoughts were a jumble as he tried to solve the problem.
16. The inbox was a jumble of unread emails.
17. The garden was a delightful jumble of wildflowers.
18. The kitchen drawers were a jumble of mismatched utensils.
19. The crowded party was a jumble of conversations.
20. The kids' toy box was a jumble of stuffed animals.
21. The tangled jumble of cords was a safety hazard.
22. The museum exhibit featured a jumble of historical artifacts.
23. The backpack contained a jumble of school supplies.
24. The storage room was a jumble of old furniture and boxes.
25. The paperwork on his desk was a disorganized jumble.