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 not the triumphant discovery that detecting an Earthlike atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet would be, but it 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

Heading into the final day of the team's offseason program, little remains known about the Seahawks' offense. … But over the past few weeks, players and coaches have raved about the play caller and in the process left a trail of bread crumbs hinting at what to expect.

—Corbin K. Smith

Examples of breadcrumb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Repeat with another layer of breadcrumbs and butter. 7. —Eva Syrovy, The Denver Post, 11 Dec. 2024

In a third bowl, stir together the panko, sourdough breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon of salt, and the remaining Old Bay. —Lynn Derrick and Janelle Weaver, Saveur, 27 Nov. 2024

There were some Marvel notes about tipping our hand a little bit more, so that the breadcrumbs were there. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

Get The Recipe 07 of 60 Parmesan Crusted Chicken Ready in 30 minutes Coat chicken cutlets in a Parmesan and Italian-seasoned breadcrumb crust and fry in a non-stick skillet for about 4 minutes per side. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1