crepe

¹ American  

[kreyp] / kreɪp /

Or crape

noun

1. a lightweight fabric of silk, cotton, or other fiber, with a finely crinkled or ridged surface.

2. a usually black band or piece of this material, worn as a token of mourning.

3. a thin, light, delicate pancake.

4. crepe paper.

5. crepe rubber.

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verb (used with object)

creped, creping

1. to cover, clothe, or drape with crepe.

crêpe ² American  

[kreyp, krep, krep] / kreɪp, krɛp, krɛp /

noun

plural

crêpes

1. crepe.

2. crepe.

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crepe British  

/ kreɪp /

noun

1. 1. a light cotton, silk, or other fabric with a fine ridged or crinkled surface

   2. ( as modifier )

      a crepe dress

2. a black armband originally made of this, worn as a sign of mourning

3. a very thin pancake, often rolled or folded around a filling

4. short for crepe paper crepe rubber

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verb

1. (tr) to cover or drape with crepe

Etymology

Origin of crepe¹

1790–1800; < French < Latin crispus curled, wrinkled

Origin of crêpe²

From French; crepe

Explanation

A crepe is a thin, French type of pancake. It's also a word for a type of thin, crinkly paper. Don't confuse your crepes and start chewing on paper. Both types of crepes are thin, though there's only one kind you'd want to eat. The inedible crepe is paper that's very thin and crinkly. Crepe paper is usually colored and is often used in decorations. The other type of crepe is a thin pancake that is filled with many types of food, including meat and fruit. Crepes are even thinner than Swedish pancakes, and they're either sweet or savory. This word shares a linguistic ancestor with English's crisp.

Example Sentences

The King - standing on the left - is wearing a grey suit and blue tie with his right hand tucked into his pocket, while the Queen wears a blue wool crepe dress.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

They’re kind of a cross between a crepe and a pancake, and they are indescribable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2024

Boxty may even be grilled thin enough to stand in as a potato crepe wrapped around various fillings.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2024

The sauce opens the richness of a pho broth or adds a blast of heat to a banh xeo, a Vietnamese crepe.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2023

I strung pink and orange and yellow crepe paper in the trees to make it look fancy.

From "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo

Related Words

• cake
• waffle