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noun C1 Advanced

crumb

kruhm

Crumb (noun) means a tiny fragment of bread, cake, or similar food. Example: “He brushed the crumbs off the table after breakfast.”

noun
1
A tiny fragment of bread, cake, or similar food.
"He brushed the crumbs off the table after breakfast."
verb
1
To coat food with breadcrumbs, or to break something into small crumbs.
"Crumb the chicken breasts before frying."

How to use crumb

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tiny bit of food that breaks off, especially from bread.

Common pairings
brush off the crumbs not a crumb left

Word forms

crumbed past tense, Crumbs plural, crumbs singular

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He brushed the _____ off the table after breakfast.

Etymology

From Old English cruma ("fragment, crumb"); the silent "b" was added later by analogy with words like "thumb" and "numb."

Origin: Old English

rat bum puke git skunk rotter stinker lowlife stinkpot scum bag dirty dog so-and-so

Related words

Rhymes for crumb

See all rhymes for crumb →

Frequently asked questions

What does “crumb” mean?

The word “crumb” means a tiny fragment of bread, cake, or similar food. In plain terms, a tiny bit of food that breaks off, especially from bread.

How do you pronounce “crumb”?

“Crumb” is pronounced kruhm (/kɹʌm/ in IPA).

How do you use “crumb” in a sentence?

Here is “crumb” used in a sentence: “He brushed the crumbs off the table after breakfast.”

What part of speech is “crumb”?

Depending on how it is used, “crumb” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “crumb” come from?

The word “crumb” comes from Old English. From Old English cruma ("fragment, crumb"); the silent "b" was added later by analogy with words like "thumb" and "numb.".

How many meanings does “crumb” have?

“Crumb” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tiny fragment of bread, cake, or similar food.

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