crunch

the sound of something crunching

• “he heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel path”

a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources)

• “an end-of-the year crunch”
• “a financial crunch”

the act of crushing

make crunching noises

• “his shoes were crunching on the gravel”

press or grind with a crunching noise

chew noisily

• “The children crunched the celery sticks”

reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading

• “grind the spices in a mortar”
• “mash the garlic”