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Gene93 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
to crumble a structure
Hello,
As far as I know "crumble" is usually used intransitively in the context of structures. I heard a friend of mine use it transitively. A game character crumbled a few stone pillars. I am not into gaming, so I can't comment on that, but I doesn't crumble sound a little odd here? At the end of the process the pillars were cracked. I would have used crack or something similar. What do you think?
As far as I know "crumble" is usually used intransitively in the context of structures. I heard a friend of mine use it transitively. A game character crumbled a few stone pillars. I am not into gaming, so I can't comment on that, but I doesn't crumble sound a little odd here? At the end of the process the pillars were cracked. I would have used crack or something similar. What do you think?
Top answer
Hi Technically, you are right, 'crumble' isn't used as a transitive verb But the language is always changing and, if a game character crumbles some stone pillars we know what is happening. I think you just have to accept it as a new way of using the word Dave
- Hi Technically, you are right, 'crumble' isn't used as a transitive verb But the language is always changing and, if a game character crumbles some stone pillars we know what is happening.
- I think you just have to accept it as a new way of using the word Dave
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5 Answers
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Hi
Technically, you are right, 'crumble' isn't used as a transitive verb
But the language is always changing and, if a game character crumbles some stone pillars we know what is happening. I think you just have to accept it as a new way of using the word
Dave
Technically, you are right, 'crumble' isn't used as a transitive verb
But the language is always changing and, if a game character crumbles some stone pillars we know what is happening. I think you just have to accept it as a new way of using the word
Dave
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"Crumble" is used in cooking as a transitive verb frequently.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumble
Merriam Webster's online dictionary lists the transitive form first:
b(?)li?\
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumble
Merriam Webster's online dictionary lists the transitive form first:
Full Definition of crumble
crumbledcrumbling play\00
I agree with you, Barbara. I've seen/heard "crumble" in this context many, many times. I just thought it was used intransitively in terms of buildings/structures.
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I might be wrong, but don't we usually crumble things smaller than us? 
The pillars were much taller than the character.
The pillars were much taller than the character.00
I agree that it's an odd use.
I'd say the pillars crumbled from the impact, with the intransitive use.
I honestly don't see it used transitively much outside of cooking.
I'd say the pillars crumbled from the impact, with the intransitive use.
I honestly don't see it used transitively much outside of cooking.
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