crunch

[kruhnch]

verb (used with object)

1. to crush with the teeth; chew with a crushing noise.

2. to crush or grind noisily.

3. to tighten or squeeze financially.

   The administration's policy seems to crunch the economy in order to combat inflation.

verb (used without object)

1. to chew with a crushing sound.

2. to produce, or proceed with, a crushing noise.

noun

1. an act or sound of crunching.

2. a shortage or reduction of something needed or wanted.

   the energy crunch.

3. distress or depressed conditions due to such a shortage or reduction.

   a budget crunch.

4. a critical or dangerous situation.

   When the crunch comes, just do your best.

crunch

/ krʌntʃ /

verb

1. to bite or chew (crisp foods) with a crushing or crackling sound

2. to make or cause to make a crisp or brittle sound

   the snow crunched beneath his feet

noun

1. the sound or act of crunching

2. short for abdominal crunch

3. informal,  the critical moment or situation

adjective

1. informal,  critical; decisive

   crunch time

Other Word Forms

• crunchable adjective
• crunchy adjective
• crunchily adverb
• crunchiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crunch¹

1795–1805; blend of craunch and crush

Word History and Origins

Origin of crunch¹

C19: changed (through influence of _munch ) from earlier craunch, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. crunch numbers,

   1. to perform a great many numerical calculations or extensive manipulations of numerical data.

   2. to process a large amount of data.

Example Sentences

The middle-age crunch of caring for both children and parents has added to the load.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

AI crunches data faster than any human ever could.

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“A liquidity crunch would be a challenge to both markets,” he said.

Read more on MarketWatch

He’d wake up at 5:30 a.m. to head to Cal’s football facility for practice until about 10:30 a.m., then head to Acre’s offices to crunch numbers.

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Unlike roasting, which removes water and can create a nice crunch in some vegetables, boiling brings softness and, to Swiss chard in particular, a wonderful silky texture.

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Related Words

• crisis 
• difficulty 
• trouble