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REFERENCE

crunch

n. · v.
US //ˈkɹəntʃ// UK //kɹˈʌntʃ// crunch
  1. 1 a crushing sound (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the loud sound of something being crushed or broken.

    a distinct, noisy crackling or grinding sound produced by crushing a brittle substance.

    Example

    We heard the crunch of dry leaves under our boots as we walked through the woods.

    Example

    The silence of the winter morning was broken only by the rhythmic crunch of footsteps on the frozen crust of the snow.
  2. 2 a shortage or crisis (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a difficult situation caused by a lack of money or time.

    a critical situation resulting from a shortage of resources, typically financial or temporal.

    Example

    The sudden credit crunch made it very difficult for small businesses to get loans.

    Example

    Faced with a severe budget crunch, the department was forced to cancel several long-term research projects and reduce its administrative staff.
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  1. 3 stomach exercise (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    an exercise for your stomach muscles where you lift your shoulders off the floor.

    an abdominal exercise performed by lying on the back and lifting the torso toward the knees without raising the lower back.

    Example

    He did fifty crunches every morning to strengthen his core.

    Example

    The trainer emphasized that performing a slow, controlled crunch is more effective for abdominal development than doing rapid, jerky sit-ups.
    • sit up
  2. 4 overtime work (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Technical Computing

    a period of intense work and long hours to finish a project on time.

    a period of compulsory or high-pressure overtime, particularly prevalent in the software and video game industries before a product launch.

    Example

    The developers were in crunch for three months to get the game ready for Christmas.

    Example

    Industry critics have frequently denounced the culture of 'crunch' as an unsustainable practice that leads to employee burnout and high turnover rates.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun in this context.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very common term in the tech and gaming industries; it carries a negative connotation regarding work-life balance.
  3. 5 to process numbers (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    to process or calculate large amounts of information quickly.

    to process large volumes of data or perform complex numerical calculations.

    Example

    The computer takes a few minutes to crunch all the data from the survey.

    Example

    Modern supercomputers can crunch trillions of operations per second, allowing meteorologists to create more accurate weather models than ever before.

    Usage

    Almost always used with 'numbers' or 'data' as the object.
  4. 6 to chew noisily (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to crush food loudly with your teeth.

    to chew or grind something with a noisy, crackling sound.

    Example

    She sat on the sofa crunching an apple while she watched the news.

    Example

    The guests sat around the table, happily crunching on fresh celery stalks and toasted pita chips while waiting for the main course.
Origin

From earlier craunch, cranch, of imitative origin.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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