crimp

¹ American  

[krimp] / krɪmp /

verb (used with object)

1. to press into small regular folds; make wavy.

2. to curl (hair), especially with the use of a curling iron.

3. to press or draw together, as the ends of something.

4. to check, restrain, or inhibit; hinder.

   Production was crimped by a shortage of workers.

5. Cooking.

   1. to pinch and press down the edges of (a pie crust), especially to seal together the top and bottom layers of pastry.

   2. to gash (the flesh of a live fish or of one just killed) with a knife to make more crisp when cooked.

6. to produce a corrugated surface in; corrugate, as sheet metal, cardboard, etc.

7. to bend (leather) into shape.

8. Metalworking.

   1. to bend the edges of (skelp) before forming into a tube.

   2. to fold the edges of (sheet metal) to make a lock seam.

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noun

1. the act of crimping.

2. a crimped condition or form.

3. Usually crimps. waves or curls, especially in hair that has been crimped or that displays a crimped pattern.

4. the waviness of wool fibers as naturally grown on sheep.

5. the waviness imparted to natural or synthetic fibers by weaving, knitting, plaiting, or other processes.

6. a crease formed in sheet metal or plate metal to make the material less flexible or for fastening purposes.

idioms

1. put a crimp in, to interfere with; hinder.

   His broken leg put a crimp in their vacation plans.

crimp ² American  

[krimp] / krɪmp /

noun

1. a person engaged in enlisting sailors, soldiers, etc., by persuasion, swindling, or coercion.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enlist (sailors, soldiers, etc.) by such means.

crimp ¹ British  

/ krɪmp /

verb

1. to fold or press into ridges

2. to fold and pinch together (something, such as the edges of two pieces of metal)

3. to curl or wave (the hair) tightly, esp with curling tongs

4. to decorate (the edge of pastry) by pinching with the fingers to give a fluted effect

5. to gash (fish or meat) with a knife to make the flesh firmer and crisper when cooked

6. to bend or mould (leather) into shape, as for shoes

7. metallurgy to bend the edges of (a metal plate) before forming into a cylinder

8. informal to hinder

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noun

1. the act or result of folding or pressing together or into ridges

2. a tight wave or curl in the hair

3. a crease or fold in a metal sheet

4. the natural wave of wool fibres

crimp ² British  

/ krɪmp /

noun

1. (formerly) a person who swindled or pressganged men into naval or military service

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verb

1. to recruit by coercion or under false pretences

Usage

What does crimp mean? Crimp most commonly means to press into small folds or ridges or to make wavy (as can be done to hair), or to pinch together or press down the edges of something (as is done with the edges of pie crust). Crimp can be used as a verb in many other specific ways that are similar to these general senses. It can also be used as a noun referring to something in the shape of a wave or a small fold, as in corrugated metal or hair that’s been crimped. Crimp can also mean to hinder or inhibit, especially to make a process less efficient. It can also be used as a noun meaning something that’s a hindrance or impediment, especially in the phrase put a crimp in, as in The driver shortage is really going to put a crimp in our delivery system. Example: Crimping the edges of the pie crust before you bake it will make it look nice, but more importantly it will prevent juices from the filling from bubbling out.

Other Word Forms

• crimper
  noun
• crimpy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of crimp¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English crympen, crimpen “to contract together,” Old English gecrympan “to curl,” derivative of crump “crooked”; see also cramp ¹ ( def. )

Origin of crimp²

First recorded in 1630–40; special use of crimp ¹

Example Sentences

Supporters say allowing rentals of non-primary residences will generate needed revenue, but opponents say it will crimp affordable housing supplies.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Still, hundreds of actors and directors have signed a letter opposing the merger, arguing it will crimp production in an already struggling industry.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

The term—for an economy stuck with both weak growth and high inflation—resurfaced last year when tariffs threatened to lift prices and crimp hiring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Analysts have generally worried that high prices for memory components could drive up the cost of smartphones and crimp consumer demand.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

The only crimp in my plan was that I seemed to have no talent whatsoever.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris