breadcrumb

noun

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

Examples of breadcrumb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lacunae in the record lead Greenblatt to sprinkle breadcrumbs of heretical thought through his tale. —Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025

With a fresh sourdough breadcrumb topping, this creamy sweet potato side satisfies stuffing urges, mingling nicely with roast poultry and other autumnal sides, while channeling that classic casserole flavor. —Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025

In hindsight, the breadcrumbs were there that Lamar, even if in uniform, possibly wouldn’t be starting. —Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

This savory dressing is made with mushrooms, the holy trinity (green bell peppers, onions, and celery), buttery breadcrumbs, and of course, juicy oysters. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breadcrumb

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