crump

American  

[kruhmp, kroomp] / krʌmp, krʊmp /

verb (used with object)

1. to crunch or make a crunching sound, as with the teeth.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of an artillery shell) to land and explode with a heavy, muffled sound.

2. to make a crunching sound, as in walking over snow, or as snow when trodden on.

noun

1. a crunching sound.

2. a large explosive shell or bomb.

3. Also called bump.  Mining. a sudden ground movement in underground workings.

crump British  

/ krʌmp /

verb

1. (intr) to thud or explode with a loud dull sound

2. (tr) to bombard with heavy shells

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noun

1. a crunching, thudding, or exploding noise

Etymology

Origin of crump

First recorded in 1640–50; imitative

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crump

In February last year, the crump of artillery was still distant, but the factories had long since shut down as the city turned into a military camp with restaurants and barbers catering to soldiers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Finally scrumplicate which evokes the positive "scrumptious" but probably depends more on "scrumple" to crush and the crump of violent opposition.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2014

It was more of a crump and you felt it through the rig.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2013

With an explosive crump the right wing tore off and the Commando plunged toward the ground.

From Time Magazine Archive

At that moment I heard another crump coming over.

From How I Filmed the War A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc. by Geoffrey H. Malins