crisp

[ krisp ]

adjective

, crisp·er, crisp·est.

1. (especially of food) hard but easily breakable; brittle:

   crisp toast.

2. (especially of food) firm and fresh; not soft or wilted:

   a crisp leaf of lettuce.

3. brisk; sharp; clear; decided:

   a crisp reply.

4. lively; pithy; sparkling:

   crisp repartee.

5. clean-cut, neat, and well-pressed; well-groomed.
6. invigorating; bracing:

   crisp air.

   Synonyms: nippy, fresh, brisk

7. crinkled, wrinkled, or rippled, as skin or water.
8. in small, stiff, or firm curls; curly.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become crisp.
2. to curl.

noun

1. Chiefly British. potato chip.
2. Cooking. a dessert of fruit, as apples or apricots, baked with a crunchy mixture, usually of breadcrumbs, chopped nutmeats, butter, and brown sugar.

crisp

/ krɪsp /

adjective

1. dry and brittle
2. fresh and firm

   crisp lettuce

3. invigorating or bracing

   a crisp breeze

4. clear; sharp

   crisp reasoning

5. lively or stimulating

   crisp conversation

6. clean and orderly; neat

   a crisp appearance

7. concise and pithy; terse

   a crisp reply

8. wrinkled or curly

   crisp hair

verb

1. to make or become crisp

noun

1. a very thin slice of potato fried and eaten cold as a snack
2. something that is crisp

Derived Forms

• ˈcrisply, adverb
• ˈcrispness, noun

Other Words From

• crisply adverb
• crispness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisp¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, from Latin crispus “curled”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisp¹

Old English, from Latin crispus curled, uneven, wrinkled

Idioms and Phrases

see burn to a cinder (crisp) .

Example Sentences

In a gas oven, this may be the difference between small flames slowly crisping a piece of meat and much larger ones licking right up against your food.

From Eater

If image quality is important to you for professional or personal reasons, look out for features such as 4K to deliver an exceptionally crisp and refined visual experience.

From Popular-Science

The plus side to choosing a toaster oven with a high operating wattage is a marked increase in cooking temperature, which is essential for performing quick operations at high heat like crisping and browning.

From Popular-Science

Some time in the freezer ensures they stay crisp at the table, not that they stick around long.

From Washington Post

It may take about 10 minutes until they look glossy, brownish and begin to crisp, so be patient.

From Washington Post

Exactly one month after the first straw goat was erected in Gävle, it was mysteriously burned to a crisp.

From The Daily Beast

Note: If you prefer cookies thin and crisp, bake them straight from the mixing bowl.

From The Daily Beast

If you prefer them chewy in the middle and crisp outside, chill the balls of dough.

From The Daily Beast

Blumenthal, a courtly gentleman of 68 in a perfectly crisp blue shirt, gets laughs by trotting out his rudimentary Spanish.

From The Daily Beast

De la Renta did design some stuff for Kennedy too—notably, one perfect belted sheath in crisp white linen.

From The Daily Beast

"Garnache," came the other's crisp, metallic voice, and the name had a sound as of an oath on his lips.

From Project Gutenberg

The small grain crops had been burned to a crisp, and disaster hung over the land.

From Project Gutenberg

The day was perfect; as clear and bright, as mellow and crisp, as rich in colour, as only an October day in England can be.

From Project Gutenberg

The girls of the town could be readily distinguished by their crisp muslins and white hats and absence of dust.

From Project Gutenberg

It was one of those brilliant clear crisp days with which that high plateau can put even California to the blush.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crispy
• crumbly
• crusty
• fresh
• plump