[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/crumb/)

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# crumb

noun (a crumb, crumbs); interjection (crumbs! — British, mild surprise)

«crumb» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A very small piece of bread, cake or biscuit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#m1)
2. A very small amount of something: "a crumb of hope". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#m2)
3. "Crumbs!" is an old-fashioned British way of showing surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, crumbs fall on the table and floor when we eat; we wipe them up so they do not attract ants and mice. In cooking, breadcrumbs coat food like fish fingers. In stories, Hansel and Gretel dropped a trail of crumbs. Phrases: crumbs on the table, breadcrumbs, a trail of crumbs, a crumb of comfort.

### Examples

- Please sweep up the crumbs after lunch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x1)
- Birds pecked at the crumbs on the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x2)
- Hansel dropped crumbs to find the way home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x3)
- There's not a crumb left of the cake! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x4)
- Crumbs attract ants into the kitchen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x5)
- The fish was coated in breadcrumbs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x6)
- Crumbs! I forgot my homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x7)
- Then he wiped the crumbs from his beard and began: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/#x8)

### Note

Countable: a crumb, crumbs. The "b" is silent: said "krum". The verb "crumble" means break into crumbs; "crumbly" means breaks easily. Manners: brush crumbs into your hand or a napkin, not onto the floor.

## In Jewish tradition

It means a small bit. In Joshua, the Gibeonites show dry, crumbled bread to claim they came from far away.

**Interpretation.** The Gibeonites tricked Israel into a treaty. Tradition reads it as a lesson about keeping an oath, and about asking God before deciding.

### Examples

- He casteth forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? (Writings PSA.147.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/crumb/#x1)
- and worn shoes and clouted upon their feet, and worn garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become crumbs. (Prophets JOS.9.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/crumb/#x2)
- This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become crumbs. (Prophets JOS.9.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/crumb/#x3)

### Note

Countable: a crumb, crumbs. The "b" is silent: said "krum". The verb "crumble" means break into crumbs; "crumbly" means breaks easily. Manners: brush crumbs into your hand or a napkin, not onto the floor.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «crumb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crumb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«crumb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/crumb.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «crumb» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/crumb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«crumb» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/crumb.html) on Mova free.