Crunch: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something is being crushed with a noisy, crisp sound. Often used for noisy food items like chips or when walking on gravel.

• He loves to crunch on his favorite cereal in the morning.
• The crunching of leaves underfoot reminded her of autumn.

Refers to the action of using one's teeth to break down food inside the mouth. Generally used for all kinds of food and gum.

• Remember to chew your food slowly for better digestion.
• She sat on the bench, chewing gum and watching people pass by.

Describes eating something with a continuous, not too noisy chewing sound, often used for snacks and casual eating.

• He munched on an apple during the break.
• Kids love to munch on cookies after school.

Implies biting or chewing something persistently, often used when talking about animals or someone chewing on something non-food related. Has a slightly negative connotation.

• The dog gnawed on the bone for hours.
• Stress can gnaw at a person's peace of mind.

A term used to describe a series of short, sharp noises, often associated with fire, paper, or static electricity. Also used for foods like crispy pork skin.

• The fire crackled in the fireplace, creating a cozy atmosphere.
• The radio gave off a crackling sound before the music started.

This is used when there is a sound of something being crushed or broken, usually with pressure, like food or snow.

• I love the crunch of fresh lettuce in my salad.
• The leaves made a satisfying crunch under my feet.

This is typically used to describe small, sharp, popping sounds, like paper burning or static electricity.

• The fire crackled warmly in the fireplace.
• The old radio crackled with static.

Snap is used for a quick, sharp breaking sound, often associated with something breaking suddenly.

• She snapped the pencil in half.
• The twig snapped under his weight.

Grind is used when something is being ground down into smaller pieces or a powder, typically using friction.

• She grinds the coffee beans every morning.
• The machine grinds the wheat into flour.

Chomp is often used when someone bites into something with enthusiasm or greediness.

• He chomped on the apple noisily.
• She chomped down on her sandwich.