# crumbs

/ˈkɹəmz/ (US) · /kɹˈʌmz/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crumbs
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

very small pieces of food, like bread or cake, that fall off when you are eating or cooking.

For teachers: small fragments of bread, cake, or biscuit that break off during preparation or consumption.

## Examples

- He brushed the crumbs off the table after breakfast.
- The children left a trail of cookie crumbs across the living room carpet while they were playing.
- The baker coated the fish in seasoned bread crumbs to ensure a crisp texture after frying.

## Usage notes

- Usually plural when referring to the waste left after eating; uncountable when used as a cooking ingredient.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.