crisp Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a thin crisp slice of potato fried in deep fat
    Saratoga chip; potato chip; chip.
  2. verb make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in
    scrunch; crease; crinkle; ruckle; wrinkle; scrunch up.
    • The dress got wrinkled
    • crease the paper like this to make a crane
  3. verb make brown and crisp by heating
    toast; crispen.
    • toast bread
    • crisp potatoes
  4. adjective satellite (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
    sharp.
    • a sharp photographic image
    • the sharp crack of a twig
    • the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot
  5. adjective satellite tender and brittle
    crispy.
    • crisp potato chips
  6. adjective satellite pleasantly cold and invigorating
    nipping; snappy; frosty; nippy.
    • crisp clear nights and frosty mornings
    • a nipping wind
    • a nippy fall day
    • snappy weather
  7. adjective satellite pleasingly firm and fresh
    • crisp lettuce
  8. adjective satellite (of hair) in small tight curls
    frizzy; frizzly; nappy; kinky.
  9. adjective satellite brief and to the point; effectively cut short; `yes'"
    laconic; terse; curt.
    • a crisp retort
    • a response so curt as to be almost rude
    • the laconic reply
    • short and terse and easy to understand

WordNet

Crisp adjective
Etymology
AS. crisp, fr. L. crispus; cf. carpere to pluck, card (wool), and E. harvest. Cf. Crape.
Definitions
  1. Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.
  2. Curled with the ripple of the water. Poetic
    You numphs called Naiads, of the winding brooks . . . Leave jour crisp channels. Shak.
  3. Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp fracture; as, crisp snow.
    The cakes at tea ate short and crisp. Goldsmith.
  4. Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh, unwilted condition.
    It [laurel] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and crisp as if it would last ninety years. Leigh Hunt.
  5. Lively; sparking; effervescing.
    Your neat crisp claret. Beau & Fl.
  6. Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively.
    The snug, small room, and the crisp fire. Dickens.
Crisp transitive verb
Etymology
L. crispare, fr. crispus. See Crisp. a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Crisped present participle & verbal noun Crisping
Definitions
  1. To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees.
  2. To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle; to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp.
    The lover with the myrtle sprays Adorns his crisped tresses. Drayton.
    Along the crisped shades and bowers. Milton.
    The crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold. Milton.
  3. To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking.
Crisp intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t.
    To watch the crisping ripples on the beach. Tennuson.
Crisp noun
Definitions
  1. That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling.

Webster 1913