crisps

noun

Senses relating to something brittle.

(Ireland, UK, chiefly in the plural) In full potato crisp: a thin slice of potato which has been deep-fried until it is brittle and crispy, and eaten when cool; they are typically packaged and sold as a snack.

(Ireland, UK, by extension) Sometimes with a descriptive word: a crispy, savoury snack made of some other ingredient(s) (such as cornmeal or a vegetable) which is baked or deep-fried and eaten like a potato crisp.

(chiefly Canada, US) A type of baked dessert consisting of fruit topped with a crumbly mixture made with fat, flour, and sugar; a crumble.

(originally US, also figurative) Chiefly in to a crisp: a food item that has been overcooked, or a thing which has been burned, to the point of becoming charred or dried out.

A curly lock of hair, especially one which is tightly curled.

A delicate fabric, possibly resembling crepe, especially used by women for veils or other head coverings in the past; also, a head covering made of this fabric.

A surname.

A place in the United States:

An unincorporated community in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

An unincorporated community in Ellis County, Texas, named after Charles F. Crisp.

An unincorporated community in Pleasants County, West Virginia, possibly a ghost town now.

(slang, dated) A banknote; also, a number of banknotes collectively.

(obsolete except UK, dialectal) The crispy rind of roast pork; crackling.

(obsolete) Senses relating to something curled.

verb

Senses relating to brittleness.

(transitive) To make (something) firm yet brittle; specifically (cooking), to give (food) a crispy surface through frying, grilling, or roasting.

(intransitive) To become firm yet brittle; specifically (cooking), of food: to form a crispy surface through frying, grilling, or roasting.

(transitive) To curl (something, such as fabric) into tight, stiff folds or waves; to crimp, to crinkle; specifically, to form (hair) into tight curls or ringlets.

(transitive, figurative) To cause (a body of water) to undulate irregularly; to ripple.

(transitive, figurative) To twist or wrinkle (a body part).

(intransitive) To become curled into tight, stiff folds or waves.

(intransitive, figurative) Of a body of water: to ripple, to undulate.

(intransitive, figurative) Of a body part: to become twisted or wrinkled.

(transitive, figurative, dated) To add small amounts of colour to (something); to tinge, to tint.

(intransitive, dated) To make a sharp crackling or crunching sound.

(dated) Senses relating to curliness.

(transitive, UK, dialectal) To fold (newly woven cloth).

adjective

Senses relating to curliness.

Senses relating to brittleness.

Having a consistency which is hard yet brittle, and in a condition to break with a sharp fracture; crumbly, friable, short.

(figurative) Not limp; firm, stiff; not stale or wilted; fresh; also, effervescent, lively.

(figurative) Of action, movement, a person's manner, etc.: precise and quick; brisk.

(figurative) Of air, weather, etc.: cool and dry; also, of a period of time: characterized by such weather.

(figurative) Of fabric, paper, etc.: clean and uncreased.

(figurative) Of something heard or seen: clearly defined; clean, neat, sharp.

(figurative) (computing theory) Not using fuzzy logic; based on a binary distinction between true and false.

(figurative) (oenology) Of wine: having a refreshing amount of acidity; having less acidity than green wine, but more than a flabby one.

(dated) Of hair: curling, especially in tight, stiff curls or ringlets; also (obsolete), of a person: having hair curled in this manner.

(archaic or obsolete) Of a body of water, skin, etc.: having a surface which is rippled or wrinkled.

(botany, archaic) Synonym of crispate (“of a leaf: having curled, notched, or wavy edges”); crisped.

(uncertain, obsolete) Clear; also, shining, or smooth.

Synonyms & related words for crisps

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Words related to crisps

Explore words related to crisps — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include crispy, chips, fries, biscuits, crackers, shortbread, snack, saltine. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.