crumble

American  

[kruhm-buhl] / ˈkrʌm bəl /

verb (used with object)

crumbled, crumbling

1. to break into small fragments or crumbs.

   Synonyms:

   shatter, mash

---

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

---

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).

---

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

But a review of court records and other documents offers a window into how a technology project envisioned as reshaping education crumbled amid allegations of fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

The students are bringing a measure of cohesion to what has otherwise been a spontaneous movement fueled by frustration over a crumbling economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

At this World Cup, they have scrambled an escape against Nepal, scraped past Scotland and Italy when the walls threatened to crumble in, and beat Sri Lanka with one of the great one-man shows.

From BBC

In Wilmington, near the busiest port in the country, crumbling sidewalks would be fixed and a new traffic signal and high-visibility crosswalks would be added.

From Los Angeles Times

Ghosts, the Bafta-nominated TV comedy about a young couple who inerit a crumbling mansion with spooky inhabitants, is being made into a feature film.

From BBC

Related Words

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