v. crum·bled, crum·bling, crum·bles v.tr. To break into small fragments or pieces: I crumbled the cheese into the salad. v.intr. 1. To fall into small fragments or pieces; disintegrate: The ancient castle had crumbled to ruins. 2. To give way; collapse: an ego that crumbles under pressure. n. 1. A baked dessert of fruit topped with a crumbly pastry mixture: cherry crumble. 2. The crumbly mixture on top of such a dessert. [Alteration (influenced by CRUMB) of Middle English cremelen, from Old English *crymelen, frequentative of gecrymmian, to break into crumbs, from cruma, crumb.] |
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