crunch
noun/krʌntʃ/
/krʌntʃ/
- [countable, usually singular] a noise like the sound of something hard being pressed or crushed
- the crunch of feet on snow
- The car drew up with a crunch of gravel.
Extra Examples- The car ran into the back of the lorry with a loud crunch.
- The snow gave a crunch as we stepped onto it.
- There was a sickening crunch as the bone snapped.
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- the crunch[singular] (informal) an important and often unpleasant situation or piece of information
- The crunch came when she returned from America.
- He always says he'll help, but when it comes to the crunch (= when it is time for action), he does nothing.
- The crunch is that we can't afford to go abroad this year.
- [countable, usually singular] a situation in which there is suddenly not enough of something, especially money
- the budget/energy/housing crunch
- Higher grain prices are putting a crunch on cattle feeders.
- [countable] an exercise for making your stomach muscles strong, in which you lie on your back and raise your shoulders slightly off the floor compare sit-upTopics Health and Fitnessc2
Word Originearly 19th cent. (as a verb): variant of 17th-cent. cranch (probably imitative), by association with crush and munch.
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crunch