crisp
noun · adjective · verb
Simple meaning
Firm and pleasantly crunchy, or fresh and cool.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
krispIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkɹɪsp
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
chiefly canadaus
A type of baked dessert consisting of fruit topped with a crumbly mixture made with fat, flour, and sugar; a crumble.
A curly lock of hair, especially one which is tightly curled.
A delicate fabric, possibly resembling crepe, especially used by women for veils or other head coverings in the past; also, a head covering made of this fabric.
A place in the United States
adjective
Having a consistency which is hard yet brittle, and in a condition to break with a sharp fracture; crumbly, friable, short.
figurative
Not limp; firm, stiff; not stale or wilted; fresh; also, effervescent, lively.
figurative
Of air, weather, etc.: cool and dry; also, of a period of time: characterized by such weather.
figurative
Of fabric, paper, etc.: clean and uncreased.
figurative
Of something heard or seen: clearly defined; clean, neat, sharp.
figurative
Of action, movement, a person's manner, etc.: precise and quick; brisk.
verb
transitive
To make (something) firm yet brittle; specifically (cooking), to give (food) a crispy surface through frying, grilling, or roasting.
transitive
To curl (something, such as fabric) into tight, stiff folds or waves; to crimp, to crinkle; specifically, to form (hair) into tight curls or ringlets.
transitivefigurative
To cause (a body of water) to undulate irregularly; to ripple.
transitivefigurative
To twist or wrinkle (a body part).
intransitivefigurative
Of a body part: to become twisted or wrinkled.
Share your sentence
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: having a consistency which is hard yet brittle
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Collections with this word
Themed sets you can browse for free.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “crisp” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.