crumble
KRUHM-buhl
Crumble (verb) means to break apart into small pieces or fall to ruin. Example: “The old wall crumbled under the weight of the tree.”
verb
1
To break apart into small pieces or fall to ruin.
"The old wall crumbled under the weight of the tree."
"Her confidence crumbled after the harsh review."
noun
1
A British dessert of stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mix of flour, butter, and sugar.
"We had apple crumble with custard for pudding."
How to use crumble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fall apart into pieces, or the classic British baked fruit dessert.
UK vs US
The dessert "crumble" is a distinctly British term; Americans might call a similar dish a "crisp" or "cobbler."
Common pairings
crumble under pressure
apple crumble
start to crumble
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Word forms
- Plural
- crumbles
- Third person singular
- crumbles
- Past tense
- crumbled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old wall _____ under the weight of the tree.
Etymology
From an older form crymble, related to "crumb" with a diminutive ending.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for crumble
See all rhymes for crumble →Frequently asked questions
What does “crumble” mean?
The word “crumble” means to break apart into small pieces or fall to ruin. In plain terms, to fall apart into pieces, or the classic British baked fruit dessert.
How do you pronounce “crumble”?
“Crumble” is pronounced KRUHM-buhl (/ˈkɹʌmbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “crumble” in a sentence?
Here is “crumble” used in a sentence: “The old wall crumbled under the weight of the tree.”
What part of speech is “crumble”?
Depending on how it is used, “crumble” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “crumble” a common word?
“Crumble” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “crumble” have?
“Crumble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to break apart into small pieces or fall to ruin.
