crunch

[ kruhnch ]
/ krʌntʃ /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to chew with a crushing sound.
to produce, or proceed with, a crushing noise.

noun

Idioms for crunch

    crunch numbers, Computers.
    1. to perform a great many numerical calculations or extensive manipulations of numerical data.
    2. to process a large amount of data.
Also craunch.

Origin of crunch

1795–1805; blend of craunch and crush

OTHER WORDS FROM crunch

crunch·a·ble, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for crunch numbers

crunch
/ (krʌntʃ) /

verb

to bite or chew (crisp foods) with a crushing or crackling sound
to make or cause to make a crisp or brittle sound the snow crunched beneath his feet

noun

the sound or act of crunching
short for abdominal crunch
the crunch informal the critical moment or situation

adjective

informal critical; decisive crunch time
Also called: craunch

Derived forms of crunch

crunchable, adjective crunchy, adjective crunchily, adverb crunchiness, noun

Word Origin for crunch

C19: changed (through influence of munch) from earlier craunch, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases with crunch numbers

crunch numbers

Perform numerous calculations or process a large amount of numerical data. For example, Preparing John's presentation to the Federal Reserve Board required many hours of crunching numbers. This term originated with the computer age and indeed still applies mostly to the operations of computers. [Slang; second half of 1900s]