crumb

1 of 2

noun

ˈkrəm 

1

a

: a small fragment especially of something baked (such as bread)

b

: a porous aggregate of soil particles

2

: bit

a crumb of good news

3

: the soft part of bread

4

slang : a worthless person

crumb

2 of 2

verb

crumbed; crumbing; crumbs

transitive verb

1

: to break into crumbs

2

: to cover or thicken with crumbs

3

: to remove crumbs from

crumb a table

Synonyms

Noun

• ace
• bit
• dab
• dram
• driblet
• glimmer
• hint
• lick
• little
• mite
• nip
• ounce
• particle
• peanuts
• ray
• scintilla
• scruple
• shade
• shadow
• shred
• skosh
• smack
• smell
• smidgen
• smidgeon
• smidgin
• smidge
• snap
• soupçon
• spark
• spatter
• speck
• splash
• spot
• sprinkling
• strain
• streak
• suspicion
• tad
• touch
• trace

Examples of crumb in a Sentence

Noun

He swept the crumbs from under the table.

a neglected dog who is desperate for any crumb of affection he might get from strangers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Servings: 12 The crumb of this strawberry cake is ultra tender, especially when studded with fresh strawberries that turn jammy when cooked. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 May 2025

The vacuum is equipped with three suction modes that can tackle small debris like dust and pet hair, plus large particles like crumbs and dirt. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 8 May 2025

Verb

Sweep the Floor See tracked it dirt or crumbs on the floor? —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2025

Another one walked on top of a bag of bread crumbs on a kitchen rack. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English crumme, from Old English cruma; akin to Middle High German krume crumb

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crumb

• bread crumb
• crumb structure

Rhymes for crumb

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

crumb

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrəm 

1

: a small piece especially of something baked (as bread)

2

: a little bit

a crumb of good news

crumb

2 of 2 verb

1

: to break into crumbs : crumble

2

: to cover or thicken with crumbs

Biographical Definition

Crumb

biographical name

ˈkrəm 

George Henry 1929–2022 American composer