singular Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the loud noise that something hard makes when you bite it
the crunch of crisps
Synonyms and related words
Loud sounds
bang
beep
blare
1a
a noise like something being crushed
I could hear the crunch of someone’s feet on the gravel.
Synonyms and related words
Loud sounds
bang
beep
blare
2
the crunch
informalthe time when something important or difficult happens or must be decided
if/when it comes to the crunch:
If it comes to the crunch, can I rely on you to support me?
Synonyms and related words
Turning points and important stages
turning point
peak
climax
2a
only before nounextremely important, usually because of having a major effect on the result of a situation
a crunch match
crunch time:
July 1 is crunch time for us.
Synonyms and related words
Important
important
major
key
3
countable usually singularmainly Americaninformala situation that is very difficult because you do not have enough of something, especially time or money
a credit/budget crunch
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
crunch
noun
US /krʌntʃ/
Other entries for this word
crunchverb
credit crunchnoun
stomach crunchnoun
Word Forms
singular
crunch
plural
crunches
DEFINITIONS4
1
singular Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the loud noise that something hard makes when you bite it
the crunch of potatochips
Synonyms and related words
Loud sounds
bang
beep
blare
1a
a noise like something being crushed
I could hear the crunch of someone’s feet on the gravel.
Synonyms and related words
Loud sounds
bang
beep
blare
2
countable usually singularinformala situation that is very difficult because you do not have enough of something, especially time or money
a credit/budget crunch
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
3
the crunch
informalthe time when something important or difficult happens or must be decided
if/when it comes to the crunch:
If it comes to the crunch, can I rely on you to support me?
Synonyms and related words
Turning points and important stages
turning point
peak
climax
4
a stomach crunch
Synonyms and related words
Physical exercise and exercises
aerobic
aerobics
aquarobics
crunch
verb
UK /krʌntʃ/
Other entries for this word
crunchnoun
credit crunchnoun
stomach crunchnoun
the crunch
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
crunch
he/she/it
crunches
present participle
crunching
past tense
crunched
past participle
crunched
DEFINITIONS3
1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to bite hard food, causing it to make a loud noise
Jane was crunching a peppermintnoisily.
Synonyms and related words
To eat in a particular way
bite
bolt
bon appétit
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
2
intransitive to make a noise like something being crushed
Leavescrunched under our feet as we walked up the path to the house.
Synonyms and related words
To make miscellaneous sounds
babble
blow
burble
2a
to move on a surface that makes the noise of something being crushed
They crunched across splinteredglass and wood to the door.
Synonyms and related words
To make a sound while moving
splash
rattle
groan
3
transitive informalif you crunch numbers, you do a lot of calculations
Synonyms and related words
To calculate or count
calculate
count
estimate
3a
if you crunch information, you deal with large amounts of it quickly
Synonyms and related words
To study, check or examine something
study
check
examine
crunch
verb
US /krʌntʃ/
Other entries for this word
crunchnoun
credit crunchnoun
stomach crunchnoun
the crunch
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
crunch
he/she/it
crunches
present participle
crunching
past tense
crunched
past participle
crunched
DEFINITIONS3
1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to bite hard food, causing it to make a loud noise
Jane was crunching a peppermintnoisily.
Synonyms and related words
To eat in a particular way
bite
bolt
bon appétit
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
2
intransitive to make a noise like something being crushed
Leavescrunched under our feet as we walked up the path to the house.
Synonyms and related words
To make miscellaneous sounds
babble
blow
burble
2a
to move on a surface that makes the noise of something being crushed
They crunched across splinteredglass and wood to the door.
Synonyms and related words
To make a sound while moving
splash
rattle
groan
3
transitive informalif you crunch numbers, you do a lot of calculations
Synonyms and related words
To calculate or count
calculate
count
estimate
3a
if you crunch information, you deal with large amounts of it quickly