Crust Meaning

UK /krʌst/
US /krʌst/
Word Definition

Crust Definition & Usage

noun

The hard outer layer or surface of something, particularly food items like bread or pizza.

Examples

  • "I love the crispy crust of freshly baked bread."
  • "The pizza was delicious, especially the crust which was perfectly golden."
  • "She scraped off the crust before eating her sandwich."
  • "The crust of the pie was flaky and buttery, just the way I like it."
  • "They serve their sandwiches with a thick crust that adds a nice crunch."
noun

The outermost layer of a planet or celestial body, especially the Earth's solid outer layer.

Examples

  • "The Earth's crust is composed of several layers that shift over time."
  • "Geologists study the crust to understand tectonic movements."
  • "Volcanic eruptions often occur when magma pushes through the Earth's crust."
  • "Seismic waves travel through the crust during earthquakes."
  • "The crust of Mars is believed to have once been much thicker than it is today."
noun

A superficial or outer layer of something, particularly in a metaphorical sense, signifying an external appearance or facade.

Examples

  • "Under the crust of her polite demeanor, she was actually quite rebellious."
  • "The crust of their friendship hid many underlying issues."
  • "He was trying to break through the crust of her indifference to get closer."
  • "The city’s shiny new buildings are just the crust over a history of industrial decline."
  • "The crust of the issue is easy to address, but the real problems lie beneath."

Cultural Context

The word 'crust' comes from the Latin 'crusta', meaning shell or hard outer layer. It has various uses in both culinary and scientific contexts. In popular culture, 'crust' is often associated with the outer, sometimes tough, part of bread or pizza that people either love or dislike, depending on their taste preferences. It is also used in a broader sense to describe the outermost part of anything, especially in relation to superficial qualities or appearances.

The Crust Beneath the Surface

Story

The Crust Beneath the Surface

Anna sat at the kitchen table, eagerly eyeing the loaf of bread her grandmother had just taken out of the oven. The smell of fresh baking filled the room, and she could already tell from the crackling sounds that the crust was perfect—golden, crisp, and inviting. As she cut a slice, the sound of the knife slicing through the crust echoed in the warm kitchen. 'The best part is always the crust,' Anna remarked, her grandmother nodding in agreement. 'It’s got character, a bit of a crunch. But what’s inside counts too.' As Anna bit into the warm bread, the soft interior melted in her mouth, contrasting perfectly with the crisp exterior. But in her thoughts, Anna couldn’t help but think about the crusts of other things in life. Beneath the polished surface of people, there was often something deeper, something more complicated. Just like the bread, people had their own hard outer layers, but those layers often hid the most interesting parts. Her mind wandered to her friend, Olivia, who had always been tough on the outside—stoic and independent. But over the years, Anna had learned that beneath that crust, Olivia was one of the most loyal and caring people she knew. 'It’s just like the bread,' Anna mused. 'We can’t judge too quickly by the outer crust.' The story of the bread, crusty yet inviting, reminded her that appearances could be deceiving. Even the hardest crust could reveal something soft and delightful inside if you were patient enough to look past it.