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definitions

crumble

[kruhm-buhl]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crumble ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), crum·bled, crum·bling.

to break into small fragments or crumbs.

verb (used without object), crum·bled, crum·bling.

to fall into small pieces; break or part into small fragments.
to decay or disintegrate gradually: The ancient walls had crumbled.

noun

a crumbly or crumbled substance.
crumbles, bits of crisp bacon, bread, etc., added to other foods, especially as a topping.
British Dialect. crumb; particle; fragment.

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RELATED WORDS

collapse, tumble, disintegrate, decay, grind, crush, degenerate, dissolve, deteriorate, pulverize, crumb, perish, fragment, molder, powder, granulate, putrefy, decompose, triturate

Nearby words

  1. cruiseway,
  2. cruising radius,
  3. cruizie,
  4. cruller,
  5. crumb,
  6. crumblings,
  7. crumbly,
  8. crumbs,
  9. crumbum,
  10. crumby

Origin of crumble

1375–1425; earlier crymble, crimble; late Middle English kremelen, akin to crome crumb; see -le
Related formscrum·bling·ness, nounhalf-crum·bled, adjectiveun·crum·bled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for crumble

British Dictionary definitions for crumble

crumble

verb

to break or be broken into crumbs or fragments
(intr) to fall apart or awayhis resolution crumbled

noun

British a baked pudding consisting of a crumbly mixture of flour, fat, and sugar over stewed fruitapple crumble

Word Origin for crumble

C16: variant of crimble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German krömeln, Dutch kruimelen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for crumble

crumble

v.

late 15c., kremelen, from Old English *crymelan, presumed frequentative of gecrymman "to break into crumbs," from cruma (see crumb). The -b- is 16c., probably on analogy of French-derived words like humble, where it belongs, or by influence of crumb. Related: Crumbled; crumbling.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with crumble

crumble

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.