crunches; crunched; crunching
1
a
: to make the loud sound of something being crushed
The snow crunched underfoot.
b
: to move along a surface that makes the loud sound of something being crushed
We could hear the truck's tires crunching along the gravel road.
2
: to process (numbers, information, etc.) : to examine and analyze (numbers, information, etc.)
When she crunched the numbers, she found that the business's profits were actually much lower than the company had said.
plural crunches
1
a
: the sound made when something hard is being chewed or crushed : a crunching sound
the crunch of someone eating a carrot
We could hear the crunch of the truck's tires on the gravel road.
b
: the quality of a food that produces a loud sound when it is chewed : a crunchy quality
The nuts give the salad crunch. [=the nuts make the salad somewhat crunchy]
2
: a very difficult point or situation
The crunch came when the computer stopped working.
3
US
: a situation in which there is not enough of something
—usually singular
The city's budget crunch means that streets will not be repaired this spring. [=because the city does not have enough money, streets will not be repaired]
The project is facing a time crunch.
an energy crunch [=(more commonly) crisis]
4
: a stomach exercise in which you lie on your back, raise the top part of your body until your shoulders are off the floor, and then lower it
—usually plural
I try to do 50 crunches a day.
Cite this Entry
“Crunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crunch. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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