rumble
UK: ˈrʌmbl | US: ˈrʌmbl
n. a continuous deep, resonant sound (e.g., thunder or machinery)
vi. to make a low, heavy, continuous sound
vt. to utter with a rumbling sound (rare)
The word "rumble" originates from Middle English romblen, an onomatopoeic imitation of low, rolling sounds (like thunder or distant wheels). The suffix -ble (a variant of -le) adds a repetitive or frequentative sense, emphasizing the continuous nature of the noise. While the morpheme rum aligns with similar echoic roots (e.g., drum, grumble), the word is primarily treated as a unified onomatopoeic formation rather than a strict compound.
The thunder began to rumble in the distance.
My stomach rumbled loudly during the meeting.
They heard the rumble of tanks approaching the city.
The old train rumbled slowly across the bridge.
A deep rumble shook the ground as the volcano erupted.