crumb

[kruhm]

noun

1. a small particle of bread, cake, etc., that has broken off.

2. a small particle or portion of anything; fragment; bit.

   Synonyms: speck, sliver, morsel, shred, scrap

3. the soft inner portion of a bread (crust ).

4. crumbs, a cake topping made of sugar, flour, butter, and spice, usually crumbled on top of the raw batter and baked with the cake.

5. Slang.,  a contemptibly objectionable or worthless person.

verb (used with object)

1. Cooking.,  to dress or prepare with crumbs.

2. to break into crumbs or small fragments.

3. to remove crumbs from.

   The waiter crumbed the table.

crumb

/ krʌm /

noun

1. a small fragment of bread, cake, or other baked foods

2. a small piece or bit

   crumbs of information

3. the soft inner part of bread

4. slang,  a contemptible person

verb

1. (tr) to prepare or cover (food) with breadcrumbs

2. to break into small fragments

adjective

1. (esp of pie crusts) made with a mixture of biscuit crumbs, sugar, etc

Other Word Forms

• crumber noun
• crumbable adjective
• decrumb verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumb¹

before 1000; Middle English crome, crume, Old English cruma; akin to Dutch kruim, German Krume crumb, Latin grūmus heap of earth

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumb¹

Old English cruma; related to Middle Dutch krome, Middle High German krūme, Latin grūmus heap of earth

Example Sentences

It’s then individually stuffed with fresh ricotta infused with fresh lemon zest and mixed with butter, bread crumbs and salt.

From Salon

In one video, Braslavski is seen crying as he says he has run out of food and water and only ate three "crumbs of falafels" that day.

From BBC

While the fractious opposition parties fought for the crumbs, Fidesz took the cake.

From BBC

"The pie is small and the crumbs left for dads and non-birthing parents are honestly pretty pitiful," he said.

From BBC

Toss it with fresh lobster chunks, enrobe cutlets with hollandaise and bread crumbs before frying, or make the most luscious broiled oysters you've ever had.

From Salon