crumb

1 of 2

noun

ˈkrəm 

1

a

: a small fragment especially of something baked (such as bread)

b

: a porous aggregate of soil particles

2

: bit

a crumb of good news

3

: the soft part of bread

4

slang : a worthless person

crumb

2 of 2

verb

crumbed; crumbing; crumbs

transitive verb

1

: to break into crumbs

2

: to cover or thicken with crumbs

3

: to remove crumbs from

crumb a table

Synonyms

Noun

• shred
• glimmer
• sprinkling
• splash
• speck
• hint
• touch
• little
• bit
• lick
• particle
• tad

Examples of crumb in a Sentence

Noun

He swept the crumbs from under the table.

a neglected dog who is desperate for any crumb of affection he might get from strangers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Process cookies in a food processor until very fine crumbs form, about 30 seconds. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 June 2025

Use ground flax seeds in place of bread crumbs in recipes. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 June 2025

Verb

Sweep the Floor See tracked it dirt or crumbs on the floor? —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2025

Another one walked on top of a bag of bread crumbs on a kitchen rack. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English crumme, from Old English cruma; akin to Middle High German krume crumb

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crumb

• bread crumb
• crumb structure

Rhymes for crumb

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

crumb

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrəm 

1

: a small piece especially of something baked (as bread)

2

: a little bit

a crumb of good news

crumb

2 of 2 verb

1

: to break into crumbs : crumble

2

: to cover or thicken with crumbs

Biographical Definition

Crumb

biographical name

ˈkrəm 

George Henry 1929–2022 American composer