breadcrumb

1 of 2

noun (1)

bread·​crumb ˈbred-ˌkrəm 

variants or bread crumb

plural breadcrumbs or bread crumbs

1

: a small fragment or crumb of bread

left breadcrumbs all over the table

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over a medium heat—it's at the correct temperature when a breadcrumb dropped into the hot oil sizzles and turns light golden.

—Bre Graham

especially : a fragment of stale, hard, or dried bread that has been crushed or ground for use in cooking

Meatballs are often made with breadcrumbs, which help bind the meat and other ingredients together …

—Lauren Salkeld

A sprinkling of bread crumbs or grated cheese, and dots of butter, help to form a light brown covering … over the sauce.

—Simone Beck et al.

2

: something (such as a hint or clue) that serves to lead or guide

Spotting a couple of gas planets in another solar system is … an important bread crumb in the search for life in the universe.

—Marina Koren

… I love how the movie drops breadcrumbs to support the conclusion that Kris Kringle is, or isn't, the real Santa.

—Odie Henderson

… the latest auteur to take the reins of the franchise … has transformed our hero into a hard-boiled detective following a trail of bread crumbs left by a serial killer.

—Miles Surrey

breadcrumbing

2 of 2

noun (2)

bread·​crumb·​ing ˈbred-ˌkrə-miŋ 

slang

: the act or practice of intermittently expressing interest in someone as a way to maintain power over them

Breadcrumbing … can also occur in familial relationships (infrequent and conditional love), friendships (connecting then breadcrumbing), and professional situations (dangling illusive opportunities).

—Psychology Today

especially : the act or practice of indicating a lasting interest in a romantic or sexual partner without any true intent to pursue a relationship

One of the most common types of relationships where breadcrumbing occurs is during a situationship, such as a "friends with benefits or 'booty call' relationship," [Vagdevi] Meunier says.

—Shannen Zitz

breadcrumb

ˈbred-ˌkrəm 

verb, transitive + intransitive

breadcrumbed; breadcrumbing; breadcrumbs

slang

Ex-partners can breadcrumb you, too. You've agreed to end the relationship and move forward, but they keep sending the occasional text or photo along with a "This made me think of you," or "Missed you today."

—healthline.com

breadcrumber noun

plural breadcrumbers

slang

But should the target of the breadcrumber express dissatisfaction and a desire to move on, often the breadcrumber suddenly becomes highly interested—as a means, of course, of keeping their target on the hook, only to eventually place them back on the shelf.

—Monica Vermani, quoted at CNN.com

Examples of breadcrumb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the beginning, there was bread The book’s centerpiece chapters on starters, mains and sweets are bookended on one side by a treatise on how to make and store breadcrumbs of various sizes, with an under-duress sub-section about how to buy breadcrumbs. —Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 8 June 2026

Top the tangy cream cheese filling with panko breadcrumbs and bacon for a bit of crunch. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 June 2026

In Baltimore, that means minimal breadcrumbs, a little Old Bay, and a light hand with everything else. —Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026

Add texture Szapiro also likes to add a crunchy element, such as breadcrumbs toasted in garlic and olive oil, crispy prosciutto, or a dollop of chili crisp. —Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

bread entry 1 + crumb entry 1; (sense 2) after the crumbs dropped to mark a return path out of the forest in the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel

Noun (2)

breadcrumb "to engage in breadcrumbing" (derivative of breadcrumb) + -ing entry 1; after the crumbs dropped to mark a return path out of the forest in the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 2010, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for breadcrumb

• become
• checksum
• humdrum
• income
• outcome
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum