---
title: crumble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crumble» in the school dictionary: To crumble is to break into small pieces. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crumble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crumble, you, We, old castle walls, Frost, rocks · **What happens:** crumble, be, cover, mean, fall apart, fail · **To what, where:** small pieces, something, baked pudding, fruit, dry biscuit, hand · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«crumble» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [crumble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/crumble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To crumble is to break into small pieces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:m1:1
# text = To crumble is to break into small pieces.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | small pieces |  | break *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To crumble something is to break it into small pieces with your fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:m2:1
# text = To crumble something is to break it into small pieces with your fingers.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | small pieces with your fingers |  | break *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crumble is a baked pudding of fruit covered with a crumbly mix of flour, butter and sugar.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:m3:1
# text = A crumble is a baked pudding of fruit covered with a crumbly mix of flour, butter and sugar.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crumble	crumble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	baked	baked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pudding	pudding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	crumbly	crumbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	mix	mix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crumble | a baked pudding |  |  |  | of fruit | tree rules |
| 2 | **cover** | participle |  | fruit *not said here* |  |  |  | with a crumbly mix of flour and butter and sugar | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent with mix=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To crumble can mean to slowly fall apart or fail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:m4:1
# text = To crumble can mean to slowly fall apart or fail.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	fail	fail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **fall apart** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | apart, slowly *property* | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **fail** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dry biscuit crumbled in my hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x1:1
# text = The dry biscuit crumbled in my hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	crumbled	crumble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | participle |  | the dry biscuit *not said here* |  | my hand |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crumble the cheese over the salad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x2:1
# text = Crumble the cheese over the salad.
1	Crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	salad	salad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cheese |  | the salad |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cheese=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made apple crumble with custard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x3:1
# text = We made apple crumble with custard.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	custard	custard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **crumble** | infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with custard | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with custard=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old castle walls are crumbling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x4:1
# text = The old castle walls are crumbling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	crumbling	crumble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | present · progressive | the old castle walls |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frost and rain make rocks crumble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x5:1
# text = Frost and rain make rocks crumble.
1	Frost	frost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Frost and rain | rocks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **crumble** | infinitive | rocks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crumble the bread for the ducks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x6:1
# text = Crumble the bread for the ducks.
1	Crumble	crumble	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | imperative | you *not said here* | the bread |  |  |  | for the ducks | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bread=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His sandcastle crumbled when the wave came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x7:1
# text = His sandcastle crumbled when the wave came.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sandcastle	sandcastle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crumbled	crumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wave	wave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crumble** | past | His sandcastle |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | past | the wave |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
'Crumble those three loaves for the ants,' he said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crumble:x8:1
# text = 'Crumble those three loaves for the ants,' he said.
1	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Crumble	crumble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	ccomp	_	_
3	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	loaves	loaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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