crumb

[ kruhm ]

noun

1. a small particle of bread, cake, etc., that has broken off.
2. a small particle or portion of anything; fragment; bit.

   Synonyms: speck, sliver, morsel, shred, scrap

3. the soft inner portion of a bread ( crust ).
4. crumbs, a cake topping made of sugar, flour, butter, and spice, usually crumbled on top of the raw batter and baked with the cake.
5. Slang. a contemptibly objectionable or worthless person.

verb (used with object)

1. Cooking. to dress or prepare with crumbs.
2. to break into crumbs or small fragments.
3. to remove crumbs from:

   The waiter crumbed the table.

crumb

/ krʌm /

noun

1. a small fragment of bread, cake, or other baked foods
2. a small piece or bit

   crumbs of information

3. the soft inner part of bread
4. slang.
   a contemptible person

verb

1. tr to prepare or cover (food) with breadcrumbs
2. to break into small fragments

adjective

1. (esp of pie crusts) made with a mixture of biscuit crumbs, sugar, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈcrumber, noun

Other Words From

• crumba·ble adjective
• crumber noun
• de·crumb verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumb¹

before 1000; Middle English crome, crume, Old English cruma; akin to Dutch kruim, German Krume crumb, Latin grūmus heap of earth

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumb¹

Old English cruma; related to Middle Dutch krome, Middle High German krūme, Latin grūmus heap of earth

Example Sentences

He accomplished it while working under an amateur contract — crumbs compared with what full professionals earn in Germany.

From Washington Post

The extra-height lift lever makes it safe to remove bread from the hot appliance, and a slide-out crumb tray helps keep things clean.

From Popular-Science

It offers six auto-cook modes, a digital timer, and manual controls, and it comes with a removable pan and crumb tray for extra flexibility.

From Popular-Science

Add the crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.

From Washington Post

Add the melted butter and vanilla and process until the crumbs are uniformly damp, about 30 seconds more.

From Washington Post

I pictured demonlike New York pigeons eating garbage and creating mayhem around a single crumb of bread.

From The Daily Beast

In a formal mood, we may even use a fork to eat a slice of cake, crumb by crumb.

From The Daily Beast

Pour the mixture onto the crumb base and place the tin on a cookie sheet.

From The Daily Beast

“That day we will have robbed the last piggy bank, drawn the last crumb out from somewhere under the bed,” Simpson told the crowd.

From The Daily Beast

The rats ate up every crumb, regardless of the significance.

From The Daily Beast

I had not a crumb of food saved up, as did those who were posted; but as I was ill at the time, my appetite was feeble.

From Project Gutenberg

The move, although skilfully planned, was baffled by the quick wit of Robin the Crumb-cracker, the blacksmith's apprentice.

From Project Gutenberg

Know that he is a man who has thus far gone share and share to the last crumb with his people, and will.

From Project Gutenberg

When the room had been cleared of the greedy geese, every one went on eating, until not even a crumb was left on the table.

From Project Gutenberg

He fitted them together carefully, gaining a crumb of security from the act.

From Project Gutenberg