crumple

American  

[kruhm-puhl] / ˈkrʌm pəl /

verb (used with object)

crumpled, crumpling

1. to press or crush into irregular folds or into a compact mass; bend out of shape; rumple; wrinkle.

2. to cause to collapse or give way suddenly.

   That right hook to the midsection crumpled him.

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verb (used without object)

crumpled, crumpling

1. to contract into wrinkles; shrink; shrivel.

2. to give way suddenly; collapse.

   The bridge crumpled under the weight of the heavy trucks.

noun

1. an irregular fold or wrinkle produced by crumpling.

crumple British  

/ ˈkrʌmpəl /

verb

1. to collapse or cause to collapse

   his courage crumpled

2. to crush or cause to be crushed so as to form wrinkles or creases

3. (intr) to shrink; shrivel

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noun

1. a loose crease or wrinkle

Other Word Forms

• crumply adjective
• uncrumpling adjective

Etymology

Origin of crumple

1400–50; late Middle English; variant of crimple

Example Sentences

Any more weight on those shoulders and Gran would crumple to the ground.

From Literature

Colbert took a paper copy with the CBS statement, crumpled it, and put it in a plastic bag typically used to collect dog feces.

From Los Angeles Times

Chip slid down to the floor, crumpling like one of those rag dolls Katherine used to drag around by the feet.

From Literature

That memory is enough to make me crumple, but Harlow giggles, and I snap back to the present.

From Literature

If she was passing out papers, she didn’t crumple mine or throw it on the floor.

From Literature

Related Words

• break down
• buckle
• crush
• scrunch