What is the meaning of crunch?

noun

• The sound of something crunching.
  • usage: "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. )
  • usage: "an end-of-the year crunch"; "a financial crunch"
• The act of crushing.
  • synonyms: crush, compaction

verb

• Make a crushing noise.
  • usage: "his shoes were crunching on the gravel"
  • synonyms: scranch, scraunch, crackle
• Press or grind with a crushing noise.
  • synonyms: cranch, craunch, grind
• Chew noisily.
  • usage: "The children crunched the celery sticks"
  • synonyms: munch
• Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading.
  • usage: "grind the spices in a mortar"; "mash the garlic"
  • synonyms: grind, mash, bray, comminute