Meaning

(intransitive, often figurative) To fall apart; to disintegrate..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive, often figurative) To fall apart; to disintegrate.
2. (transitive) To break into crumbs.
3. (transitive) To mix (ingredients such as flour and butter) in such a way as to form crumbs.
4. A dessert of British origin containing stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of fat, flour, and sugar.

Example Sentences

The bread roll crumbled when I tried to slice it; it was too stale.

The empire crumbled when the ruler's indiscretions came to light.

Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? / Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?

In 1989, as communism was beginning to crumble across Eastern Europe, just a few months before protesters started pecking away at the Berlin Wall, the Japanese game-making giant Nintendo reached across the world to unleash upon America its own version of freedom.

We crumbled some bread into the water.

Using your fingers, crumble the ingredients with the fingertips, lifting in an upward motion, until the mixture is sandy and resembles large breadcrumbs.

blackberry and apple crumble

Word Forms

• crumbles
• crumbling
• crumbled
• crimble

Synonyms for crumble

Related Words

When Should You Use Crumble?

Use crumble when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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