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A breadcrumb is a small fragment of bread, often dried and ground, used in cooking to bind ingredients or create a topping. For example, meatballs frequently incorporate breadcrumbs for this purpose. The term can also metaphorically refer to a hint or clue that guides someone, inspired by the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel who dropped crumbs to mark their path. The verb "to bread" means to coat something with breadcrumbs, such as pork chops before frying. Bread sauce is a milk-and-butter sauce thickened with breadcrumbs.123

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  1. breadcrumb
  2. bread sauce
  3. bread

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