breadcrumb

[ bred-kruhm ]

noun

1. a crumb of bread, either dried or soft.
2. Usually breadcrumbs. Also called breadcrumb trail. Digital Technology. a sequence of text links on the current page of a website or web-based application, usually at the top, showing the page's location within a hierarchy of content or browsing history and providing a convenient navigational tool:

   Online shoppers can use breadcrumbs to see other products in the same category.

breadcrumb

/ ˈbrɛdˌkrʌm /

noun

1. the soft inner part of bread
2. plural bread crumbled into small fragments, as for use in cooking

verb

1. to coat (food) with breadcrumbs

   egg and breadcrumb the escalopes

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadcrumb¹

First recorded in 1760–70; bread none + crumb none

Example Sentences

This, despite getting nothing from her subject save for breadcrumb trails that went cold, leads that dissolved into thin air.

From Los Angeles Times

Each of these edits leaves a unique digital breadcrumb trail and Stamm's lab has developed a suite of tools calibrated to find and follow them.

From Science Daily

It is so nourishing and satisfying, sort of like a cabbage version of creamed spinach, but with a buttery breadcrumb topping.

From Salon

This “breadcrumb trail” plot, ostensibly inspired by scavenger hunts that Saba and Sandro played as children, runs counter to Saba’s overall mood of disorientation — his role as Inept Foreigner clangs against the Keen Detective persona.

From Los Angeles Times

"He left his own breadcrumb trail," Matt explains.

From BBC