Word
crud
US/ˈkɹəd/
UK/kɹˈʌd/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. dirty, sticky, or unpleasant stuff that builds up on things — like mud, grease, or dust. You use it when something feels gross and needs a good clean.
n. a layer or accumulation of dirt, residue, or unwanted matter on a surface. By extension, something regarded as worthless, inferior, or contemptible.
Examples
“I clean the crud off my bike wheels.”
“After the hike, he scrubs the crud from his boots before entering the house.”
“Years of kitchen crud coat the old stove, a sticky archive of meals cooked in a hurry and wiped away too fast.”
Examples
simple
“I clean the crud off my bike wheels.”
contextual
“After the hike, he scrubs the crud from his boots before entering the house.”
complex
“Years of kitchen crud coat the old stove, a sticky archive of meals cooked in a hurry and wiped away too fast.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “crud” in context.
Verb
01. covered in crud
“His hands were covered in crud after fixing the engine.”
verb + prep + noun
02. crud accumulates
“Crud accumulates quickly inside the coffee machine.”
noun + verb
03. crud builds up
“If you never clean it, crud builds up around the taps.”
noun + verb
04. remove crud
“Use vinegar to remove crud from the shower head.”
verb + noun
05. scrape off crud
“He used a knife to scrape off crud from the grill.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
06. crusty crud
“I had to soak the pan to loosen the crusty crud.”
adj + noun
07. greasy crud
“He wiped the greasy crud off the stove with a hot cloth.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. coating of crud
“The grill had a sticky coating of crud on it.”
noun + prep + noun
09. film of crud
“There was a thin film of crud on the bathroom mirror.”
noun + prep + noun
10. layer of crud
“A thick layer of crud coated the windowsill.”
noun + prep + noun
11. covered in sticky crud
“The oven tray was covered in sticky crud.”
12. layer of greasy crud
“There was a layer of greasy crud behind the cooker.”
Etymology
From Middle English crud, crudde (“coagulated milk; curd; any coagulated or thickened substance; dregs”), from Old English crūdan (“to press”). Doublet of curd.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Idioms
01. holy crud
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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