crumble

[ kruhm-buhl ]
/ ˈkrʌm bəl /

verb (used with object), crum·bled, crum·bling.

to break into small fragments or crumbs.

verb (used without object), crum·bled, crum·bling.

to fall into small pieces; break or part into small fragments.
to decay or disintegrate gradually: The ancient walls had crumbled.

noun

a crumbly or crumbled substance.
crumbles, bits of crisp bacon, bread, etc., added to other foods, especially as a topping.
British Dialect. crumb; particle; fragment.

Origin of crumble

1375–1425; earlier crymble, crimble; late Middle English kremelen, akin to crome crumb; see -le

OTHER WORDS FROM crumble

crum·bling·ness, noun half-crum·bled, adjective un·crum·bled, adjective

Definition for crumbling (2 of 2)

crumblings
[ kruhm-blingz ]
/ ˈkrʌm blɪŋz /

plural noun

crumbs; crumbled bits.

Origin of crumblings

Example sentences from the Web for crumbling

British Dictionary definitions for crumbling

crumble
/ (ˈkrʌmbəl) /

verb

to break or be broken into crumbs or fragments
(intr) to fall apart or away his resolution crumbled

noun

British a baked pudding consisting of a crumbly mixture of flour, fat, and sugar over stewed fruit apple crumble

Word Origin for crumble

C16: variant of crimble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German krömeln, Dutch kruimelen

Idioms and Phrases with crumbling

crumble

see that's how the ball bounces (cookie crumbles).