1 C1 formal
(Restaurant/hospitality) To brush crumbs off a dining table between courses using a special scraper or cloth.
"The server crumbed down the table skillfully before presenting the dessert menu."
separable
crumb down
C1 formal separable transitive
In a restaurant or formal dining context, to clean a table by removing crumbs with a special tool or cloth between courses.
In plain English
To brush or wipe crumbs off a table at a restaurant, usually before dessert.
What does "crumb down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To remove crumbs downward (off the table) onto a plate or cloth.
Actually means
To brush or wipe crumbs off a table at a restaurant, usually before dessert.
Usage tip
A specialized term used mainly in professional hospitality and formal dining. The tool used for this purpose is called a 'crumber'. Rarely used outside the restaurant industry.
Words that pair with "crumb down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
table tablecloth course dessert waiter service
How to conjugate "crumb down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
crumb down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
crumbs down
he/she/it
Past simple
crumbed down
yesterday
Past participle
crumbed down
have + pp
-ing form
crumbing down
continuous
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