crinkle

[kring-kuhl]

verb (used with or without object)

crinkled, crinkling 

1. to wrinkle; crimple; ripple.

2. to make slight, sharp sounds; rustle.

3. to turn or wind in many little bends and twists.

noun

1. a wrinkle or ripple.

2. a crinkling sound.

3. a turn or twist.

crinkle

/ ˈkrɪŋkəl /

verb

1. to form or cause to form wrinkles, twists, or folds

2. to make or cause to make a rustling noise

noun

1. a wrinkle, twist, or fold

2. a rustling noise

Word History and Origins

Origin of crinkle¹

1350–1400; Middle English crinklen; akin to Old English crincan to bend, yield, Dutch krinkelen to crinkle; cringle, cringe, crank ¹, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of crinkle¹

Old English crincan to bend, give way; related to Middle Dutch krinkelen to crinkle, Middle High German krank weak, ill, krenken to weaken

Example Sentences

Don’t be shy about shape or size — shoestring, steak-cut, crinkle, waffle, sweet potato — I’ll even give a pass to tater tots for the sake of this exercise.

Read more on Salon

Jimmy Fallon once grabbed a cigarette out of Greg Gutfeld’s mouth, crinkled it up and tossed it to the ground, hollering at the Fox News personality, “Those things will kill you!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The can itself has a sealed top and crinkles at the edges to make it clear the contents aren't to be drunk.

Read more on BBC

By 8:45 a.m., the clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the grass in Nielson’s fist began to crinkle and snap.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Evoke rugged cowgirl with the large brushed leather tote, or latex queen with the shiny crinkled leather minibag.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• pucker 
• scrunch