crumble
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++crum·ble1 /ˈkrʌmbəl/ ●○○ verb 1 TBFALL[intransitive] (also crumble away) if something, especially something made of stone or rock, is crumbling, small pieces are breaking off it 碎裂，崩裂，坍塌 The old stonework was crumbling away. 古老的石筑部分逐渐崩塌。 crumbling colonial buildings 逐渐坍塌的殖民时期建筑► see thesaurus at break2 [intransitive, transitive]BREAK to break apart into lots of little pieces, or make something do this （使）粉碎，（使）碎裂 The fall leaves crumbled in my fingers. 秋叶在我指间碎裂了。 ¼ cup crumbled goat’s cheese 四分之一杯山羊奶酪碎3 [intransitive] (also crumble away)PEFFECTIVE to lose power, become weak, or fail 衰弱，崩溃 SYN disintegrate The Empire began to crumble during the 13th century. 这个帝国在13世纪时开始崩溃。 our crumbling economy 我们正在衰退的经济 → that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3)→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
crumble• They generally crumble after the first flight, leaving the fans only handfuls of tortilla shrapnel for the throwing.• His circle of advisers and associates is crumbling along with his empire.• The old stonework was crumbling and eroded and badly in need of repair.• Briggs resolve crumbled and he reached for the whisky bottle.• The rubber seal is crumbling and will need to be replaced.• Some of the tiles are crumbling around the edges.• It was all crumbling away in front of him.• Rangoon's old buildings are crumbling from neglect.• Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko's army crumbled, he was toppled, and Kabila was installed in his place.• The autumn leaves crumbled in my fingers.• Crumble the bacon and set aside.• Mrs. Suggs crumbled the bread into hot milk.• Beat the eggs, crumble the cheese, and mix together.• When donned, it crumbles to dust, but it confers the skills Charm, Mime, Mimic and Seduction.permanently.• Its sister mission in Tumacacori was built of adobe and has crumbled under the weight of the years.crumble2 noun [uncountable] British English DFFa sweet dish of fruit covered with a dry mixture of flour, butter, and sugar and baked 酥皮水果甜点心 apple crumble 酥皮苹果甜点心Examples from the Corpus
crumble• Muriel kept a flow of small talk steadily through tomato soup, liver casserole and apple crumble.• And if he has the nerve, apple crumble with custard.• You can also use them in crumbles or tarts, cake and bread mixtures.Origin crumble1 Old English gecrymian, from cruma; → CRUMBcrum·ble1 verbcrumble2 nounChineseSyllable
is Corpus rock, made especially or if something of something, stone
crumble
crum‧ble1 /ˈkrʌmbəl/ 
verb1. [intransitive] (also crumble away) if something, especially something made of stone or rock, is crumbling, small pieces are breaking off it:
The old stonework was crumbling away.
crumbling colonial buildings
2. [intransitive and transitive] to break apart into lots of little pieces, or make something do this:
The fall leaves crumbled in my fingers.
¼ cup crumbled goat’s cheese
3. [intransitive] (also crumble away) to lose power, become weak, or fail
SYN disintegrate:
The Empire began to crumble during the 13th century.
our crumbling economy
⇨ that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3)
■ to become broken
▪break verb [intransitive] to become damaged and separate into pieces: Plastic breaks quite easily.
▪smash verb [intransitive] to break after being hit with a lot of force: The bowl smashed as it hit the floor.
▪shatter verb [intransitive] to break into a lot of small pieces: The glass shattered all over the pavement.
▪crack verb [intransitive] if something cracks, a line appears on the surface, which means that it could later break into separate pieces: The ice was starting to crack.
▪burst verb [intransitive] if a tyre, balloon, pipe etc bursts, it gets a hole and air or liquid suddenly comes out of it: She blew up the balloon until it burst.
▪split verb [intransitive] to break in a straight line: The damp had caused the wood to split.
▪crumble verb [intransitive] to break into a powder or a lot of small pieces: The cork just crumbled in my hand.
crumble2 noun [uncountable] British English
a sweet dish of fruit covered with a dry mixture of flour, butter, and sugar and baked:
apple crumble
| I |
verb1. [intransitive] (also crumble away) if something, especially something made of stone or rock, is crumbling, small pieces are breaking off it: 2. [intransitive and transitive] to break apart into lots of little pieces, or make something do this:
3. [intransitive] (also crumble away) to lose power, become weak, or fail
SYN disintegrate:
⇨ that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3)
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| II |
noun [uncountable] British Englisha sweet dish of fruit covered with a dry mixture of flour, butter, and sugar and baked:
