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Glite Dictionary
tombola

tombola

1 9.1
A game in which people draw numbered tickets to win prizes
  • noun
  • /tɒmˈboʊlə/
  • UK
translation icon : tómbola
  • At the village fête, the highlight of the day was the tombola, where many local businesses donated prizes.

Examples

  • She won't help the hungry once a month At your tombolas

    Evita (1996)

  • Mum and I have had a great deal of support from our community already in the form of the local pub displaying an art exhibition for Mum's sketches, which were enjoyed by all and raised awareness; tombola in town on Dementia Awareness Day, 17th September; plant sales at car boots, etc.

    Blog text (30)

  • Does that mean he won't be able to contribute to tombola?

    The Constant Gardener (2005)

  • They pass in front of one stall, a tombola.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The tombola's arrived.

    Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

  • During the summer fair, the children eagerly awaited their turn to play the tombola and win exciting prizes.

  • Everyone at the charity event was thrilled when the tombola tickets were drawn, hoping to win something special.

Synonyms

lottery
vstombola
57 2.7

A situation where the result is decided by chance, not planning

refers to a specific game using a drum and pre-numbered tickets
lotto
vstombola
49 4.4

A game where players mark numbers on a card and hope to win money

uses pre-numbered tickets drawn from a drum giving each ticket a specific prize
quiniela
vstombola
  • US
9.9

A game like a lottery where you pick numbers to win money

uses pre-numbered tickets drawn from a drum rather than player-chosen numbers

Surface Forms

tombola singular
tombolas plural

Etymology

Tombola comes from Italian and is linked to the verb tombolare meaning 'to tumble'. A helpful way to remember it is to picture numbered tickets tumbling out of a turning drum, which is exactly why a tombola is a simple lottery where winners are drawn at random.