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basculer

to tip over

verb bass-ku-LAY Rare

Also means

to switch

Usage Note

Basculer describes a physical tipping or pivoting motion (le vase a basculé = the vase tipped over) and figuratively a shift in state or allegiance (basculer dans la violence = to slide into violence; basculer vers la droite = to swing to the right). The noun bascule is a seesaw or weighing lever.

Examples

"La balance a basculé de l'autre côté."

Natural Translation

The scales tipped to the other side.

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