crumble

play

verb crum·ble \ˈkrəm-bəl\

Definition of crumble

crumbled

;

crumbling

play \ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb
: to break into small pieces
intransitive verb
1 : to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
2 : to break down completely : collapse marriages crumble

See crumble defined for English-language learners

See crumble defined for kids

Examples of crumble in a Sentence

Crumble the cookies into small bits.
The recipe calls for the herbs to be crumbled.
bones so old they had crumbled to dust
She was extremely depressed after her marriage crumbled.

Recent Examples of crumble from the Web

But thousands of years after the Roman Empire crumbled to dust, its concrete structures are still standing.

— zahra ahmad, Science | AAAS, "Why modern mortar crumbles, but Roman concrete lasts millennia", 3 July 2017
Its walls fended off two invasions by the Roman army in the 2nd century, only to crumble under the explosives of the Islamic State group, which bulldozed its ruins.

— lee keath, The Seattle Times, "A Mosul mosque in rubble, victim of militants’ destruction", 29 June 2017
Is this all about to come crumbling down because of Liza?

— jessica radloff, Glamour, "Hilary Duff Backs Up Her 'Younger' Character's Risky Friendship Move", 28 June 2017
Plump raspberries, sweet and spicy pecans, and pickled onions ensured all aspects of the palate were pleased and crumbled feta imparted a bit of creaminess to the compilation.

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Wiltshire At The Speed should not be missed | Review", 21 June 2017
A deepening crack in a bedroom ceiling has caused layers of paint to fall, and the sidewalk in front of the house has buckled and crumbled as sand keeps washing out of the wall onto the corner of Kennedy Avenue and Wicker.

— michelle l. quinn, Post-Tribune, "Town, homeowner discuss retaining wall safety risk", 20 June 2017
Their ability to tell their own story is also limited by comprehensive N.D.A.s and non-compete clauses, though in the aftermath of the Bachelor in Paradise incident, the power some of these N.D.A.s have over contestants appears to be crumbling.

— jessica meiselman, HWD, "How the Bachelor in Paradise Scandal Could Change Reality TV for Good", 20 June 2017
The VHS tapes, stored three states away, are all but crumbled.

— tyler coates, Esquire, "The Last Remaining Evidence of My Father's Voice is Fading Away", 18 June 2017
As the USSR slowly abandoned its hold on Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, East Germany’s economy began to crumble and people fled West en masse.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Germany Moves Forward with Controversial Monument to Reunification", 16 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crumble'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of crumble

alteration of Middle English kremelen, frequentative of Old English gecrymian to crumble, from cruma

NEW!

First Known Use: 1547

See Words from the same year

crumble

noun crum·ble

Definition of crumble

1 : something crumbled : fine debris
2 : crisp 2

See crumble defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of crumble from the Web

Sweet cherries are typically eaten raw, and tart cherries, grown mainly in Michigan and Wisconsin, are great for use in barbecue sauces, as part of a salsa, or baked into sweet treats like pies and crumbles.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Learn to cook with cherries in dishes both sweet and savory", 23 June 2017
Among them is the Blue Angel ($10.59), a heavy, hefty burger topped with bacon and crumbles of blue cheese.

— malcolm mayhew, star-telegram, "Tommy’s Burgers & Brews refreshes a beefy Fort Worth mainstay", 21 June 2017
Dry ingredients like spices, citrus zest and vanilla seeds work better for preserving the brittle crumble of the cookie.

— melissa clark, New York Times, "The Simplest Shortbread You Can Bake", 9 June 2017
Souvla, Multiple Locations The frozen Greek yogurt is topped with sour-cherry syrup, baklava crumbles, olive oil, or wildflower honey.

— andrea whittle, CNT, "What to Do in San Francisco: The Black Book", 5 June 2017
Granny’s potato soup was a sensational white elixir dressed with cheese and bacon crumbles.

— suzanne loudermilk, baltimoresun.com, "Nostalgia reigns at old-fashioned Schultz's Crab House in Essex", 1 June 2017
WILLINGTON, Conn. (AP) — As the foundation beneath their home crumbles,

— susan haigh, The Seattle Times, "Town coffers crumble along with a region’s home foundations", 15 May 2017
As the foundation beneath their home crumbles, Christina Mailhos and her husband are trying to figure out how to come up with $200,000 or more for the massive fix while college tuition bills loom for two teenagers.

— Washington Post, "Town coffers crumble along with a region’s home foundations", 15 May 2017
The rhubarb crumble will be part of a brunch menu that will be available from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The brunch will also feature a make-to-order crepe station.

— veronica hinke, chicagotribune.com, "Eight special spots for a meal on Mother's Day", 9 May 2017

First Known Use of crumble

1860

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

CRUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners

crumble

play

verb

Definition of crumble for English Language Learners

: to break (something) into small pieces
: to separate into many small pieces : to fall apart
: to break down completely : to stop functioning

crumble

noun

Definition of crumble for English Language Learners

crumbles : small pieces of something that has been crumbled

CRUMBLE Defined for Kids

crumble

play

verb crum·ble \ˈkrəm-bəl\

Definition of crumble for Students

crumbled

;

crumbling

1 : to break into small pieces crumble bread
2 : to fall to pieces : fall into ruin Any moment these walls may crumble upon us … — Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee