Definition

1. Verb:

   • To crush or crumple something, making a crunching sound: To press or squeeze something, often causing a crackling or crushing noise.
   • To make wrinkles or creases on a surface: To contract or squeeze something smooth into folds or ridges.
   • To hunker down; to crouch or squat low to the ground: To lower the body close to the ground by bending the knees deeply.

2. Noun:

   • A crunching sound: The noise produced when something is crushed, crumpled, or stepped on.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • She scrunched the paper into a ball and threw it away. (She crushed the paper, making a noise, into a ball.)
  • Don't scrunch your forehead; you'll get wrinkles. (Don't contract the skin on your forehead into folds.)
  • We had to scrunch down behind the wall to avoid being seen. (We had to crouch low behind the wall.)

• Noun:

  • The scrunch of dry leaves underfoot announced his arrival. (The crunching sound of dry leaves signaled his arrival.)

Advanced Usage

• "to scrunch up": To tighten or contract one's facial features or body.
  • He scrunched up his face in disgust. (He tightened his facial muscles, creating a disgusted expression.)
• "to scrunch something up": To crumple something completely.
  • She scrunched the letter up in anger. (She crumpled the letter angrily.)

Variants and Related Words

• Scrunchie (n): A fabric-covered elastic band used to tie hair.
  • She tied her hair with a velvet scrunchie.
• Crunch (v/n): To crush noisily; a crushing sound. (A close synonym, but often implies more force or a harder material).

Synonyms

• Crumple: To crush something so that it becomes creased and wrinkled.
• Crush: To press or squeeze with force, often to deform.
• Squat: To crouch with the knees bent and the heels close to the buttocks.
• Crease: To make a line or wrinkle on a surface.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Scrunch down: To lower oneself into a crouching position.
  • The soldier scrunched down in the trench. (The soldier crouched low in the trench.)
• Scrunch up: (1) To crumple an object. (2) To contort one's face or body.
  • Please don't scrunch up the important documents. (Please don't crumple the documents.)

Related Idioms

Noun

1. a crunching noise

Verb

1. make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in
   • The dress got wrinkled
   • crease the paper like this to make a crane
2. sit on one's heels
   • In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting
   • The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm
3. make a noise typical of an engine lacking lubricants