📖 C — The English dictionary · page 92

crucial — Everyday, meaning 1: Extremely important, because something else depends on it: «Sleep is crucial for growing children».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (UK, slang, old) Brilliant, excellent: «That tune is crucial!».↗ Example: Sleep is crucial for your brain and body.↗ · Her crucial goal won the cup final.↗ · It is crucial to look both ways before you cross the road.↗ · Bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops.↗ · Reading the question carefully is crucial in a maths test.↗ · The crucial clue was a muddy footprint.↗ · Water is crucial to all living things.↗

crucible — Everyday, meaning 1: A crucible is a strong pot that can stand great heat, used for melting metal or other things.↗ Example: The metals were melted in the crucible.↗ · It was easy to melt all these away in the gold-making crucible.↗ · In science we heated salt in a crucible.↗ · The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.↗ (Writings PSA.12.7, JPS 1917)↗

crucifixion — Everyday, meaning 1: (Bible, church) The Crucifixion is the death of Jesus on a cross, which Christians remember on Good Friday.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A crucifixion is a cruel way of killing someone by fixing them to a cross, used by the Romans long ago.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A painting or statue showing Jesus on the cross.↗ Example: On Good Friday Christians remember the Crucifixion.↗ · The Gospels tell the story of the Crucifixion.↗ · The Romans used crucifixion to punish slaves and rebels.↗ · The museum has a famous painting of the Crucifixion.↗ · After the Crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb.↗ · Christians believe the Crucifixion shows how much God loves people.↗ · We read about the Crucifixion in our Easter assembly.↗ · In other parts of Russia, tradition tells that before the crucifixion the swallows carried off the nails provided for the use of the executioners, but the sparrows brought them back.↗

crucify — Everyday, meaning 1: To kill someone by nailing or tying them to a cross and leaving them to die — a cruel punishment used in ancient times, especially by the Romans.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Bible, church) Used of Jesus.↗ e.g. Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose again on the third day.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) To criticise someone very harshly or punish them badly: «The newspapers crucified the manager.».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal, sport) To beat someone very heavily.↗ Example: The Romans crucified criminals as a warning to others.↗ · Christians believe Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday.↗ · The creed says he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.↗ · Two thieves were crucified beside Jesus.↗ · Mum will crucify me if I lose another coat!↗ · The critics crucified the new film.↗ · We got crucified six–nil in the final.↗

crud — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) Crud is dirt, grime or a sticky mess.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use, dialect) Crud is curd, the thick soft part of sour milk that is made into cheese.↗ Example: He begged a bit of cheese crud.↗ · The sink was full of greasy crud.↗ · He gave half of the crud to the bull-calf.↗

crude — Everyday, meaning 1: In a natural state, not yet made pure or processed: crude oil.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Simple and roughly made, without much skill: a crude raft.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Rude and rough in a vulgar way: crude jokes.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (maths, science) Rough, not exact: a crude estimate.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (noun) Short for crude oil.↗ Example: Crude oil is pumped from under the sea.↗ · We built a crude shelter from branches.↗ · The caveman's tools were crude but useful.↗ · Don't tell crude jokes in class.↗ · That's only a crude estimate of the answer.↗ · The price of crude went up.↗

cruel — Everyday, meaning 1: Cruel means causing pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or not caring when they suffer.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Cruel can mean very hard to bear, as in cruel weather or cruel luck.↗ Example: It is cruel to hurt animals.↗ · The cruel giant locked the children in the tower.↗ · Laughing at someone who is sad is cruel.↗ · Cinderella's stepsisters were cruel to her.↗ · The winter was cruel and long.↗ · Don't be cruel; be kind.↗ · It was a cruel twist of fate.↗ · “How could you be so cruel?↗ · Their wine is the venom of serpents, and the cruel poison of asps.↗ (Torah DEU.32.33, JPS 1917)↗ · And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit, and for cruel bondage.↗ (Torah EXO.6.9, JPS 1917)↗ · Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.↗ (Torah GEN.49.7, JPS 1917)↗ · Lest thou give thy vigour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel; (Writings PRO.5.9, JPS 1917)↗ · Consider how many are mine enemies, and the cruel hatred wherewith they hate me.↗ (Writings PSA.25.19, JPS 1917)↗ · A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.↗ (Writings PRO.17.11, JPS 1917)↗

cruelly — Everyday, meaning 1: Cruelly means in a cruel way, causing pain or suffering on purpose or without caring.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Cruelly can also mean in a way that seems very unfair or unlucky.↗ Example: The wicked stepmother treated Cinderella cruelly.↗ · The puppy had been cruelly abandoned by the roadside.↗ · The other children laughed cruelly at his mistake.↗ · She was cruelly injured a week before the race.↗ · It is against the law to treat animals cruelly.↗ · The team was cruelly beaten by a goal in the last second.↗ · Who can have treated you so cruelly?”↗ · As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, committed robbery on his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he dieth for his iniquity.↗ (Prophets EZK.18.18, JPS 1917)↗

cruelty — Everyday, meaning 1: Cruelty is behaviour that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or without caring.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A cruelty is a cruel action.↗ Example: Cruelty to animals is against the law.↗ · The king was famous for his cruelty.↗ · Bullying is a form of cruelty.↗ · Shampoo labelled «cruelty-free» was not tested on animals.↗ · The story shows the cruelty of war.↗ · She could not believe the cruelty of his words.↗ · Kindness is the opposite of cruelty.↗ · “Oh! my dear daughter,” he cried, kissing her, “can you ever forget my cruelty?↗

cruise — Everyday, meaning 1: A holiday on a large ship that visits several places: a cruise around the Mediterranean.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To sail, drive or fly at a steady, comfortable speed: the plane cruised at 900 km/h.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb, informal) To win or do something very easily: they cruised to victory.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb) To move slowly around an area, looking: cruising the streets.↗ Example: Grandma and Grandad went on a cruise to Norway.↗ · The cruise ship had swimming pools and a cinema.↗ · The plane cruises at about 900 km per hour.↗ · A boat cruising at 20 km/h for 3 hours goes 60 km.↗ · (informal) She cruised through the spelling test.↗ · Our team cruised to a 4–0 win.↗ · We cruised down the river in a little boat.↗

crumb — Everyday, meaning 1: A very small piece of bread, cake or biscuit.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A very small amount of something.↗ e.g. "a crumb of hope".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: "Crumbs!" is an old-fashioned British way of showing surprise.↗ Example: Please sweep up the crumbs after lunch.↗ · Birds pecked at the crumbs on the path.↗ · Hansel dropped crumbs to find the way home.↗ · There's not a crumb left of the cake!↗ · Crumbs attract ants into the kitchen.↗ · The fish was coated in breadcrumbs.↗ · Crumbs!↗ I forgot my homework.↗ · Then he wiped the crumbs from his beard and began:↗ · He casteth forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold?↗ (Writings PSA.147.17, JPS 1917)↗ · and worn shoes and clouted upon their feet, and worn garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become crumbs.↗ (Prophets JOS.9.5, JPS 1917)↗ · This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become crumbs.↗ (Prophets JOS.9.12, JPS 1917)↗

crumble — Everyday, meaning 1: To crumble is to break into small pieces.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To crumble something is to break it into small pieces with your fingers.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A crumble is a baked pudding of fruit covered with a crumbly mix of flour, butter and sugar.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To crumble can mean to slowly fall apart or fail.↗ Example: The dry biscuit crumbled in my hand.↗ · Crumble the cheese over the salad.↗ · We made apple crumble with custard.↗ · The old castle walls are crumbling.↗ · Frost and rain make rocks crumble.↗ · Crumble the bread for the ducks.↗ · His sandcastle crumbled when the wave came.↗ · 'Crumble those three loaves for the ants,' he said.↗ · The earth is broken, broken down, the earth is crumbled in pieces, the earth trembleth and tottereth; (Prophets ISA.24.19, JPS 1917)↗

crumbly — Everyday, meaning 1: Something crumbly breaks easily into small pieces called crumbs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Crumbly can also describe soil, rock or old walls that fall apart easily.↗ Example: The shortbread was soft and crumbly.↗ · Wensleydale is a crumbly white cheese.↗ · The gardener said the soil should be dark and crumbly.↗ · The crumbly old wall was not safe to climb.↗ · Chalk is a soft, crumbly rock.↗ · My cake was too crumbly to cut into neat slices.↗ · Crumbly bits of biscuit fell all over the sofa.↗

crumple — Everyday, meaning 1: To crumple paper or cloth is to squeeze it so that it becomes full of creases.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To crumple is to fall down suddenly in a heap, or for a face to crease up before crying.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To crumple can mean to collapse or be crushed, like a car in a crash.↗ Example: He crumpled up the letter and threw it away.↗ · My shirt was crumpled after the long trip.↗ · Her face crumpled and she started to cry.↗ · The paper ball was crumpled and soft.↗ · The runner crumpled to the ground at the finish line.↗ · The front of a car is built to crumple in a crash.↗ · Don't crumple your homework into your bag.↗ · Then a storm came on, and the wonderful paper crane got damp, crumpled up, and fell into the sea.↗

crunch — Everyday, meaning 1: To crunch means to bite or press something hard so it makes a loud cracking sound.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A crunch is that sound.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Crunches are an exercise like sit-ups for the stomach muscles.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To crunch numbers is to do a lot of sums.↗ Example: He did 20 crunches each morning.↗ · She crunched 8 carrots.↗ · How many crunches does he do in 7 days?↗ · The leaves crunch under our feet.↗ · The snow crunched under my boots.↗ · I like the crunch of a fresh apple.↗ · The computer can crunch big numbers fast.↗ · The cattle move and crunch, and lie down, and move on again, and they do not even low.↗

crupper — Everyday, meaning 1: A crupper is a strap on a horse's harness that runs under its tail to stop the saddle sliding forward.↗ Example: «Oh, my crupper and breastplate!» said the troop-horse.↗ · Tighten the crupper before you ride.↗ · The crupper rubbed the horse's tail.↗

crusade — Everyday, meaning 1: (history, church) The Crusades were wars from about 1095 to 1291 in which Christian armies from Europe fought mainly to take control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A crusade is a long, strong effort to change something that people believe is wrong.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To crusade is to work hard and publicly for a cause.↗ Example: The First Crusade began in 1096.↗ · Richard the Lionheart fought in the Third Crusade.↗ · Thousands died in the Crusades on all sides.↗ · Our class started a crusade against plastic litter.↗ · She crusaded for safer crossings near schools.↗ · Grandad is on a crusade to get everyone to recycle.↗ · The crusaders built castles in the Holy Land.↗

cruse — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A small jar or flask for holding water or oil.↗ Example: And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.'↗ (Prophets 1SA.26.16, JPS 1917)↗ · And he said: 'Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein.'↗ And they brought it to him.↗ (Prophets 2KI.2.20, JPS 1917)↗ · And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the hot stones, and a cruse of water.↗ (Prophets 1KI.19.6, JPS 1917)↗

crush — Everyday, meaning 1: To crush means to press something so hard that it breaks, bends or loses its shape.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To crush also means to defeat completely or to make someone feel very sad.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A crush is a strong, often secret liking for someone.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A crush is also a crowd of people pressed together tightly.↗ Example: Crush the biscuits to make the cheesecake base.↗ · The can was crushed flat.↗ · Mind your fingers or the door will crush them.↗ · Heavy furniture should be fixed to the wall so it can't fall and crush anyone.↗ · She has a crush on a boy in her class.↗ · Our team was crushed 5–0.↗ · He felt crushed when he wasn't picked.↗ · There was a crush of people at the gate.↗ · They will crush us to death.’↗ · He that is crushed or maimed in his privy parts shall not enter into the assembly of the LORD.↗ (Torah DEU.23.1, JPS 1917)↗ · or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath his eye overspread, or is scabbed, or scurvy, or hath his stones crushed; (Torah LEV.21.20, JPS 1917)↗ · That which hath its stones bruised, or crushed, or torn, or cut, ye shall not offer unto the LORD; neither shall ye do thus in your land.↗ (Torah LEV.22.24, JPS 1917)↗ · They crush Thy people, O LORD, and afflict Thy heritage.↗ (Writings PSA.94.5, JPS 1917)↗ · To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, (Writings LAM.3.34, JPS 1917)↗ · How long will ye vex my soul, and crush me with words?↗ (Writings JOB.19.2, JPS 1917)↗