wrinkle

[ ring-kuhl ]

/ ˈrɪŋ kəl /

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See synonyms for: wrinkle / wrinkled / wrinkles on Thesaurus.com

noun

a small furrow or crease in the skin, especially of the face, as from aging or frowning.

a temporary slight ridge or furrow on a surface, due to contraction, folding, crushing, or the like.

verb (used with object), wrin·kled, wrin·kling.

to form wrinkles in; corrugate; crease: Don't wrinkle your dress.

verb (used without object), wrin·kled, wrin·kling.

to become wrinkled.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of wrinkle

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), back formation from wrinkled,Old English gewrinclod, past participle of gewrinclian to wind round; perhaps akin to wrick, wrench

Other definitions for wrinkle (2 of 2)

wrinkle²

[ ring-kuhl ]

/ ˈrɪŋ kəl /

noun Informal.

an ingenious trick or device; a clever innovation: a new advertising wrinkle.

Origin of wrinkle

1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent to wrinc trick (Old English wrenc;see wrench) + -le

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wrinkle in a sentence

Although the testing system in the United States has worked out some of its initial wrinkles since the pandemic began in full force last spring, it’s still not a well-oiled machine.
For $149, this Oakland Airport vending machine dispenses covid tests|Rachel Lerman|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
At the time, the prevailing idea held that mountains formed like wrinkles on the planet as it slowly lost the heat of formation and its surface contracted.
How the Earth-shaking theory of plate tectonics was born|Carolyn Gramling|January 13, 2021|Science News
There’s a couple of new wrinkles here and there, but other than that, the biggest hurdle was getting timing with the guys, the speed of the game again, stuff like that.
Alex Smith, Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson are listed as questionable for Washington|Nicki Jhabvala|January 2, 2021|Washington Post
The towels absorb the moisture and help remove the wrinkles.
Hints From Heloise: Hearing aids and masks|Heloise Heloise|January 1, 2021|Washington Post

So to reduce wrinkles many manufacturers blend a polymer, such as polyester, with the cotton.
Old clothes soon may be recycled, not trashed|Kathiann Kowalski|December 10, 2020|Science News For Students
Khan looks youthful—even at 29, she seems like a teen—peeking out from underneath chunky bangs and wrinkling her button nose.
Indie Rock's Bewitching New Siren|Rachel Syme|May 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The boss looked up with the little horse-shoe frown wrinkling between his eyes.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde
Mayo stared after her, wrinkling his forehead for a moment, as if he had discovered some new vagary in femininity to puzzle him.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
Mr. Fogg took off his hat and mopped his bald spot, wrinkling his eyelids in deep reflection.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
All right, I say, observed the stout general, wrinkling up his nose; we all know you are aiming at the ministry.
Smoke|Turgenev Ivan Sergeevich
"I really don't see how we are to go to town at all this winter," said Mrs. Jones, wrinkling her pretty forehead.
Southern Hearts|Florence Hull Winterburn

British Dictionary definitions for wrinkle (1 of 2)

wrinkle¹

/ (ˈrɪŋkəl) /

noun

a slight ridge in the smoothness of a surface, such as a crease in the skin as a result of age

verb

to make or become wrinkled, as by crumpling, creasing, or puckering

Derived forms of wrinkle

wrinkleless, adjectivewrinkly, adjective

Word Origin for wrinkle

C15: back formation from wrinkled, from Old English gewrinclod, past participle of wrinclian to wind around; related to Swedish vrinka to sprain, Lithuanian reñgti to twist. See wrench

British Dictionary definitions for wrinkle (2 of 2)

wrinkle²

/ (ˈrɪŋkəl) /

noun

informal a clever or useful trick, hint, or dodge

Word Origin for wrinkle

Old English wrenc trick; related to Middle Low German wrank struggle, Middle High German ranc sudden turn. See wrench

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

wrinkle

Origin of wrinkle

Other definitions for wrinkle (2 of 2)

Origin of wrinkle

Words related to wrinkle

How to use wrinkle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wrinkle (1 of 2)

Derived forms of wrinkle

Word Origin for wrinkle

British Dictionary definitions for wrinkle (2 of 2)

Word Origin for wrinkle