n.
- a small fragment of bread, cake, or biscuit.
▸the soft inner part of a loaf of bread.
- a very small amount:
the Budget provided few crumbs of comfort.
- N. Amer. informal an objectionable or contemptible person.
v.
[
often as adj. crumbed]
cover (food) with breadcrumbs.
Etymology
OE cruma, of Gmc origin; the final -b was added in the 16th cent., perh. from crumble.