crimp

[ krimp ]

/ krɪmp /

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See synonyms for: crimp / crimper on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to press into small regular folds; make wavy.

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

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

to check, restrain, or inhibit; hinder: Production was crimped by a shortage of workers.

Cooking.

to pinch and press down the edges of (a pie crust), especially to seal together the top and bottom layers of pastry.
to gash (the flesh of a live fish or of one just killed) with a knife to make more crisp when cooked.

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

to bend (leather) into shape.

Metalworking.

to bend the edges of (skelp) before forming into a tube.
to fold the edges of (sheet metal) to make a lock seam.

noun

the act of crimping.

a crimped condition or form.

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

the waviness of wool fibers as naturally grown on sheep.

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

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

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Idioms for crimp

put a crimp in, to interfere with; hinder: His broken leg put a crimp in their vacation plans.

Origin of crimp

1350–1400; Middle English crympen,Old English gecrympan to curl, derivative of crump crooked

OTHER WORDS FROM crimp

crimper, noun

Words nearby crimp

criminogenic, criminol., criminology, criminous, crimmer, crimp, crimple, Crimplene, crimpy, crimson, crimson clover

Definition for crimp (2 of 2)

crimp²

[ krimp ]

/ krɪmp /

noun

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

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of crimp

First recorded in 1630–40; special use of crimp¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

VOCAB BUILDER

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.

Where does oeuvre come from?

The first records of crimp in English come from the 1300s. It comes from the Old English gecrympan, meaning “to curl.” This word is derived from crump, meaning “crooked.”

Hair can be curled using a curling iron, but it can be crimped using another type of iron that produces small, angular waves. Hair crimping was particularly popular in the 1980s (but it still looks rad). Pie crust dough is crimped by hand. You use your fingers to pinch a wavy pattern around the edge. A similar crimping technique is used to seal together the two sheets of dough that form a dumpling.

A lot of other things can be crimped. When you put a crimp in a piece of metal, it’s often to make it less flexible or so that two two pieces will hold together. Sometimes, this is done with a special tool called a crimper, a crimping tool, or crimping pliers.

All of these meanings involving pinching and creasing led to a metaphorical sense: to put a crimp in something is to disrupt or restrict it. Road work puts a crimp in your commute. Unemployment puts a crimp in consumer spending.

Crimp is also an old slang term referring to a person who “persuades” (swindles) people into naval or military service. It can also be used as a verb meaning to do so. It has fallen out of use, hopefully because everyone agrees it’s best to keep the crimping to hair and pie crusts.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to crimp?

crimpy (adjective)
crimped (adjective, past tense verb)
crimper (noun)
uncrimped (adjective, verb)
recrimped (adjective, verb)

What are some synonyms for crimp?

What are some words that share a root or word element with crimp?

What are some words that often get used in discussing crimp?

How is crimp used in real life?

Crimp appears in all kinds of contexts involving folds, ridges, waves, and things being pinched together. It’s especially used in the contexts of hair and pie crust, as well as in the phrase put a crimp in something.

Crimped hair should make a comeback. pic.twitter.com/9dqOTybGqX

— PhantoMantis (@PhantoMantis) May 5, 2020

Here’s everything you need to know to roll and crimp pie dough like a pro: https://t.co/luBXpCyS8o! 🥧💯 #UltimateThanksgivingChallenge pic.twitter.com/NHgG2gcOsL

— Food Network (@FoodNetwork) November 4, 2019

Cole certainly has ace capabilities, but he ranked 53rd among #MLB starters (minimum 250 IP) with a 103 ERA+ over the past two seasons. That might have put a crimp into the packages the #Pirates were offered for him.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 14, 2018

Try using oeuvre!

Which of the following words would NOT be used to describe something that’s crimped?

A. creased
B. straight
C. wavy
D. pinched

How to use crimp in a sentence

Fold over the edges and crimp, then trim any remaining excess.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie|Carla Hall|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That would put a real crimp in the dating seminars of a man who actively encourages abusive behavior toward women.
‘Pick-Up Artist’ to Be Banned from UK|Tom Sykes|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It might also put a bit of a crimp in the economies of states like New York and Delaware.
After the Fiscal Cliff: What do Democrats Want?|Megan McArdle|January 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The lockout may not put a crimp in the day of the typical sports fan.
Cancellation of NHL Games Has Negative Economic Impact|Miranda Green|December 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Hydraulic fracking is helping put a crimp on Russian Oligarchs, extending even to the Kremlin.
Hydraulic Fracking's Putting the Screws to Vladimir and Friends|Justin Green|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Whether or not Black Hood's unexpected appearance at that meeting had put a crimp in those plans, he did not know.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
On this particular summer afternoon Cove City was less out of crimp than usual.
Mr. Opp|Alice Hegan Rice
Ruth was always keyed up about something—delighted, and Cy was always "putting a crimp" in things.
Fidelity|Susan Glaspell
Some of the men thought we ought to be vindictive and take every opportunity to put a crimp in the business for the owners.
The Iron Puddler|James J. Davis
They say he give a screech that'd put a crimp in the devil himself, and went galloping off, jumping about twenty feet at a lick.
The Happy Family|Bertha Muzzy Bower

British Dictionary definitions for crimp (1 of 2)

crimp¹

/ (krɪmp) /

verb (tr)

to fold or press into ridges

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

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

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

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

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

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

informal, mainly US to hinder

noun

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

a tight wave or curl in the hair

a crease or fold in a metal sheet

the natural wave of wool fibres

Derived forms of crimp

crimper, nouncrimpy, adjective

Word Origin for crimp

Old English crympan; related to crump bent, Old Norse kreppa to contract, Old High German crumpf, Old Swedish crumb crooked; see cramp 1

British Dictionary definitions for crimp (2 of 2)

crimp²

/ (krɪmp) /

noun

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

verb

to recruit by coercion or under false pretences

Word Origin for crimp

C17: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

crimp

verb (used with object)

noun

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Idioms for crimp

Origin of crimp

OTHER WORDS FROM crimp

Words nearby crimp

Definition for crimp (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of crimp

VOCAB BUILDER

What does crimp mean?

Where does oeuvre come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is crimp used in real life?

Try using oeuvre!

Words related to crimp

How to use crimp in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crimp (1 of 2)

verb (tr)

noun

Derived forms of crimp

Word Origin for crimp

British Dictionary definitions for crimp (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for crimp