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somersault

somersaults; somersaulting; somersaulted

A somersault is a gymnastic move in which you lower your head almost to the floor and roll forward so your feet flip over your head. Fancier somersaults are done in the air, rather than on the ground.

There are many types of somersaults—forward, backward, and sideways, among other variations. In gymnastics, a somersault on the floor is more often called a roll. The word somersault, which works as a verb too, comes from the now-obsolete French sombresault, from the Latin roots supra, "over," and saut, "a jump."

Definitions of somersault
  1. noun
    an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
    synonyms: flip, somersaulting, somerset, summersault, summerset
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    types:
    flip-flop
    a backward somersault
    type of:
    tumble
    an acrobatic feat of rolling or turning end over end
  2. verb
    do a somersault
    see moresee less
    type of:
    roll over
    make a rolling motion or turn
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘somersault'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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