crunch

[ kruhnch ]

verb (used with object)

1. to crush with the teeth; chew with a crushing noise.
2. to crush or grind noisily.
3. to tighten or squeeze financially:

   The administration's policy seems to crunch the economy in order to combat inflation.

verb (used without object)

1. to chew with a crushing sound.
2. to produce, or proceed with, a crushing noise.

noun

1. an act or sound of crunching.
2. a shortage or reduction of something needed or wanted:

   the energy crunch.

3. distress or depressed conditions due to such a shortage or reduction:

   a budget crunch.

4. a critical or dangerous situation:

   When the crunch comes, just do your best.

crunch

/ krʌntʃ /

verb

1. to bite or chew (crisp foods) with a crushing or crackling sound
2. to make or cause to make a crisp or brittle sound

   the snow crunched beneath his feet

noun

1. the sound or act of crunching
2. short for abdominal crunch
3. the crunch informal.
   the critical moment or situation

adjective

1. informal.
   critical; decisive

   crunch time

Derived Forms

• ˈcrunchy, adjective
• ˈcrunchable, adjective
• ˈcrunchily, adverb
• ˈcrunchiness, noun

Other Words From

• cruncha·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crunch¹

1795–1805; blend of craunch and crush

Word History and Origins

Origin of crunch¹

C19: changed (through influence of munch ) from earlier craunch, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. crunch numbers, Computers.
   1. to perform a great many numerical calculations or extensive manipulations of numerical data.
   2. to process a large amount of data.

Example Sentences

“I’m 65 years old, playing a character that, if you crunch the math, should be about 40,” he told The Times of taking on Tevye, the show’s devout dairyman.

From Los Angeles Times

The crunch came in crisis talks this week, when it became clear that both sides were irreconcilable.

From BBC

Pi00a isn’t a restaurant but pops up all over Los Angeles and beyond, baking puffy-edged, char-crusted pizza pies with toppings such as miso eggplant; soppressata with chili crunch; Hainan chicken; and Asian pear with pancetta.

From Los Angeles Times

The family ships mix-and-match four-packs of frozen pizzas nationwide, with the option to add a jar of Pi00a chili crunch.

From Los Angeles Times

The dried arbol, chipotle and guajillo chiles turn chewy with a gentle, slow burn while the almonds, sesame seeds and pepitas offer a nice crunch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crisis
• difficulty
• trouble