crumb
UK: krʌm | US: krʌm
n. a small fragment of bread, cake, or other baked food
n. a tiny piece or amount of something
vt. to break into small fragments
The word "crumb" originates from Old English cruma, meaning "fragment or small piece of bread." It is related to Dutch kruim and German Krume, all sharing the Proto-Germanic root krumô. The "-b" ending in Modern English is a vestige of Old English inflectional suffixes, though it no longer carries meaning. The core idea of "breaking into small pieces" has persisted across languages, reflecting the word’s practical use in describing food fragments.
She brushed the crumb off the tablecloth.
Only a crumb of evidence was found at the scene.
He crumbed the bread to make stuffing.
A single crumb can attract ants.
The cake was so dry it crumbled into crumbs.