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

Those kinds of political breadcrumbs seem to lead down the path toward a presidential bid announcement for the Democrat. —Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2025

Cover with the breadcrumbs and bake for 15 minutes. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025

Thick-cut bacon, Panko breadcrumbs, and a touch of sherry vinegar transform Brussels sprouts into a salty and crunchy treat. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025

They’re boiled and rolled in breadcrumbs browned in butter, topped with powdered sugar, and served warm. —Irv Erdos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 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