CRUMBLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does crumble mean?
• CRUMBLE (verb)
The verb CRUMBLE has 3 senses:
1. fall apart
2. break or fall apart into fragments
3. fall into decay or ruin
Familiarity information: CRUMBLE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• CRUMBLE (verb)
Meaning:
Fall apart
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
crumple; crumble; collapse; tumble; break down
Context examples:
the building crumbled after the explosion / Negotiations broke down
Hypernyms (to "crumble" is one way to...):
change integrity (change in physical make-up)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sentence example:
The business is going to crumble
Meaning:
Break or fall apart into fragments
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
crumble; fall apart
Context examples:
The cookies crumbled / The Sphinx is crumbling
Hypernyms (to "crumble" is one way to...):
disintegrate (break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Fall into decay or ruin
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
delapidate; decay; crumble
Context example:
The unoccupied house started to decay
Hypernyms (to "crumble" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "crumble"):
deteriorate (become worse or disintegrate)
corrode; rust (become destroyed by water, air, or an etching chemical such as an acid)
weather (change under the action or influence of the weather)
eat at; erode; gnaw; gnaw at; wear away (become ground down or deteriorate)
droop; wilt (become limp)
ruin (fall into ruin)
break; bust; fall apart; wear; wear out (go to pieces)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
