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crust

n. · v.
US //ˈkɹəst// UK //kɹˈʌst// crust
  1. 1 bread or pizza (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    the hard outer part of a loaf of bread or the base of a pizza.

    the external, hardened layer of bread or the dough-based foundation of a pizza.

    Example

    The children always ask me to cut the crusts off their sandwiches.

    Example

    The artisan bakery is famous for its sourdough, which features a thick, dark crust and a remarkably airy interior.
  2. 2 geology (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    the thin, rocky outer layer of the Earth or another planet.

    the outermost solid shell of a terrestrial planet or natural satellite.

    Example

    The Earth's crust is made of many different types of rock.

    Example

    Tectonic plates are massive sections of the Earth's crust that move slowly over the more fluid mantle beneath them.
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  1. 3 pastry (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    the outer layer of a pie made from pastry.

    the baked pastry shell or covering of a sweet or savoury pie.

    Example

    She made a delicious apple pie with a flaky golden crust.

    Example

    The chef brushed the top crust with egg wash to ensure it achieved a rich, glossy finish in the oven.
  2. 4 a living (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    a way to earn money to live.

    a means of earning a livelihood; often used in the phrase 'to earn a crust'.

    Example

    He has been trying to earn a crust as a freelance writer for years.

    Example

    After the factory closed, many local residents struggled to find new ways to earn a crust in such a remote area.
  3. 5 nerve or gall (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal

    rude behaviour or a lack of respect.

    impudence, audacity, or insolence.

    Example

    I can't believe he had the crust to ask for more money after being late.

    Example

    The intern had the absolute crust to correct the CEO during the annual general meeting.
  4. 6 to form a hard layer (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to form a hard layer on the surface of something.

    to cover with or form into a hardened outer layer or coating.

    Example

    The salt began to crust on his skin after he swam in the ocean.

    Example

    By the following morning, a thin layer of ice had crusted over the surface of the small garden pond.
Origin

From Middle English cruste, from Anglo-Norman and Old French cruste, from Latin crusta (“hard outer covering”), from Proto-Indo-European krustós (“hardened”), from krews- (“to form a crust, begin to freeze”), related to Old Norse hroðr (“scurf”), Old English hruse (“earth”), Old High German hrosa (“crust, ice”), Latvian kruvesis (“frozen mud”), Ancient Greek κρύος (krúos, “frost, icy cold”), κρύσταλλος (krústallos, “crystal, ice”), Avestan 𐬑𐬭𐬎𐬰𐬛𐬭𐬀- (xruzdra-, “hard”), Sanskrit क्रूड् (krūḍ, “thicken, make hard”).

Idioms3 entries

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