crumbles
|crum-bles|
🇺🇸
/ˈkrʌmbəlz/
🇬🇧
/ˈkrʌmb(ə)lz/
(crumble)
break into pieces
Etymology
'crumble' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'crumblen', where the base 'crumb' referred to a small broken piece
'crumblen' changed from Old English elements such as 'crumb' (meaning 'crumb, small piece') and eventually became the modern English word 'crumble' through Middle English
Initially, it referred to a 'small broken piece' (a crumb) or the action of producing such pieces; over time it developed the verb sense 'to break into small pieces / to fall apart' and the noun sense for the dessert 'crumble'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'crumble': small broken pieces or crumbs; also used for multiple servings/types of the dessert 'crumble' (e.g., apple crumbles)
The menu includes several fruit crumbles.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'crumble': to break, fall apart, or be reduced into small fragments or crumbs
She crumbles the biscuit into the bowl.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/04 00:19