crumble

American  

[kruhm-buhl] / ˈkrʌm bəl /

verb (used with object)

crumbled, crumbling

1. to break into small fragments or crumbs.

   Synonyms:

   shatter, mash

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verb (used without object)

crumbled, crumbling

1. to fall into small pieces; break or part into small fragments.

   Synonyms:

   disintegrate

2. to decay or disintegrate gradually.

   The ancient walls had crumbled.

noun

1. a crumbly or crumbled substance.

2. crumbles, bits of crisp bacon, bread, etc., added to other foods, especially as a topping.

3. British Dialect. crumb; particle; fragment.

crumble British  

/ ˈkrʌmbəl /

verb

1. to break or be broken into crumbs or fragments

2. (intr) to fall apart or away

   his resolution crumbled

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noun

1. a baked pudding consisting of a crumbly mixture of flour, fat, and sugar over stewed fruit

   apple crumble

crumble Idioms  

1. see that's how the ball bounces (cookie crumbles).

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Other Word Forms

• crumblingness noun
• half-crumbled adjective
• uncrumbled adjective

Etymology

Origin of crumble

1375–1425; earlier crymble, crimble; late Middle English kremelen, akin to crome crumb; -le

Example Sentences

If I went back, I knew my bones would turn dry and crumble away.

From Literature

The 16th seed was aiming for just a second WTA singles title in what was her first final in two years and fourth in total, but her game crumbled under the weight of Sabalenka's groundstrokes.

From BBC

But in the second half his team crumbled.

From BBC

“Your mother was a rat, and that makes you a baby rat,” she spits, and Willa’s world crumbles further.

From Los Angeles Times

But Papic and others pointed out that rebuilding Venezuela’s crumbling infrastructure would probably take years and require billions of dollars in investment.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• break up
• collapse
• crush
• decay
• degenerate
• deteriorate
• disintegrate
• dissolve
• grind
• tumble