Dictionary.com
definitions

crumble

[kruhm-buhl]
||
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.

RELATED CONTENT

The Wittiest Vegan Names For Animal-alternativesWe know the word vegan came about in the 1800s, but what about the other terms that relate to veganism? Let's take a look at what vegans call their versions of animal products and where they came up with the names. Note: These may not be the most popular names for these vegan items, but they're definitely the most entertaining.
READ MORE
Are Scrabble tile values in need of an overhaul?Invented by out-of-work architect Alfred Butts during the Great Depression, Scrabble is a staple of word lovers’ lives. The popularity of this beloved game took off in the mid-1950s and has been an essential part of the canon of classic board games ever since. To determine Scrabble’s tile values, Alfred Butts carefully analyzed letter frequency in various periodicals, including the front page of the New York …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

decaying, breaking

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

crumblings

[kruhm-blingz]

plural noun

crumbs; crumbled bits.

Origin of crumblings

crumble + -ing1 + -s3
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for crumbling

British Dictionary definitions for crumbling

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 crumbling

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 crumbling

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.