crisp

adjective

\ ˈkrisp

crisper; crispest

Definition of crisp

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : curly, wavy also : having close stiff or wiry curls or waves

2a : easily crumbled : brittle a crisp cracker

b : desirably firm and crunchy crisp lettuce

3a : notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear a crisp illustration also : concise and to the point a crisp reply

b : noticeably neat crisp new clothes

c : brisk, lively a crisp tale of intrigue crisp musical tempi

d : briskly cold crisp winter weather also : fresh, invigorating crisp autumn air a crisp white wine

e : deftly and powerfully executed a crisp tennis serve

crisp

verb

crisped; crisping; crisps

Definition of crisp (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : curl, crimp

2 : to cause to ripple : wrinkle

3 : to make or keep crisp

intransitive verb

1 : curl

2 : ripple

3 : to become crisp

crisp

noun

Definition of crisp (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : something crisp or brittle burned to a crisp rye crisps

b chiefly British : potato chip —usually used in plural

2 : a baked dessert of fruit with crumb topping apple crisp

Other Words from crisp Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about crisp

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Synonyms for crisp

Synonyms: Adjective

brickle [dialect], brittle, crispy, crumbly, embrittled, flaky (also flakey), friable, short

Choose the Right Synonym for crisp

Adjective

fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily. fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling. a fragile antique chair frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy. frangible stone used for paving brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness. brittle bones crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods. crisp lettuce friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized. friable soil

Examples of crisp in a Sentence

Adjective

I put on a crisp shirt and tie. The stereo's sound is crisp and clear.

Verb

Crisp the celery in ice water.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

This is the case with Woodstock Way, a 13-room boutique hotel tucked behind a waterfall with cedar siding, crisp, whitewashed rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the leafy environs. — Amy Tara Koch, Dallas News, "These four mountain getaways are worth a peak," 13 Aug. 2019 Fries are chunky and crisp, sprinkled with garlic chives and togashari, a Japanese chile pepper mix. — Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, "At Craigie Burger in Time Out Market, the famous stack is astonishingly good," 13 Aug. 2019 Carlos Monarrez and Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford returned from a six-day break of heavy throwing and looked crisp, accurate and efficient with his passes during practice Tuesday. — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford looks sharp, throws TDs in return to practice," 13 Aug. 2019 Desserts are a casual affair -- the menu offers sundaes, a peach crisp, cookie with milk and dark chocolate tart, a mess of chocolate, chipotle and bacon. — Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "Ocean City’s Shark on the Harbor puts the focus on Maryland seafood and produce," 8 Aug. 2019 Cook bacon in a medium skillet on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 mins. — Taylor Murray, Country Living, "Tomato Salad With Bacon Vinaigrette," 5 Aug. 2019 This is the case with Woodstock Way, a 13-room boutique hotel tucked behind a waterfall with cedar siding, crisp, whitewashed rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the leafy environs. — Amy Tara Koch, The Know, "Mountain getaways outside of Colorado that are worthy of a summer vacation," 24 July 2019 Colorful and crisp, tangy and crunchy, pickles have lately been appearing in the very finest kitchens. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Quick pickling gives fresh veggies and fruit a tangy crunch in a day or less," 16 July 2019 Versions of the whole, roasted Cantonese duck have bounced on and off the menu for years, and the bird is still a marvel of texture: Its sweet-sticky exterior, baroquely crisp, yields beautifully to rich, moist flesh. — Patricia Escárcega, latimes.com, "Spago at middle age: Is Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant still relevant?," 27 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Mohammad brines the roasted half chicken ($22) for a day before pounding it down and finishing it to order at high heat to crisp up the skin to that brown crust that tastes of the oven and salt and poultry nectar. — Allyson Reedy, The Know, "Restaurant review: Bettola gives Aurora a date night-perfect Italian bistro," 1 Aug. 2019 Excess moisture will cause the oil to splatter and prevent the chickpeas from crisping. — Christopher Kimball, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Three new ways to love grains," 9 July 2019 The slow increase in temperature keeps the skin from crisping too quickly and shrinking. — Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appetit, "Hot Honey Chicken Thighs with a Side of Chicken Fat Toast Because Why Not," 21 Feb. 2018 Neon pinks and greens were sisters to crisp whites. — Candace Hasan And Shalwah Evans, Essence, "Makeup Trends Were A Beauty Must At This Year’s Essence Festival," 8 July 2019 The guanciale crisped up nicely on the grill, while the mochi bits weren’t given a chance to cook properly and retained their rectangular shapes and firmness. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "The Mission’s Prairie switches gears, but is it better?," 3 July 2019 This recipe pairs that dressing and crisped bacon with orzo, a popular choice for the pasta salads of summer. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "This deserves to be your summer’s go-to bacon salad," 19 June 2019 This recipe pairs that dressing and crisped bacon with orzo, a popular choice for the pasta salads of summer. — Bonnie S. Benwick, The Denver Post, "This deserves to be your summer’s go-to bacon salad," 17 June 2019 This recipe pairs that dressing and crisped bacon with orzo, a popular choice for the pasta salads of summer. — Washington Post, "This deserves to be your summer’s go-to bacon salad," 11 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Fried chicken wings are piping hot, paper-crisp and encased in a salty-sweet fish sauce lacquer. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "The best restaurants in Mesa," 15 July 2019 Tteok kochi — chewy little rice cake nubbins basted with gochujang, broiled to a sticky crisp and dusted with crushed peanuts — is the ultimate bar snack, as far as I’m concerned. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "The best restaurants in Mesa," 15 July 2019 The Institute for Public Policy Research, a leftish think-tank, recently called for more food taxes and for sweets, crisps and soft drinks to be sold in plain packets, as cigarettes already are. — The Economist, "Boris Johnson may reverse Britain’s embrace of sin taxes," 4 July 2019 In the good-news department, Sutherland has entered the Minnesota burger scene with his own cheesy, double-pattied-for-extra-crisp-and-flavor version that squarely lands in my top 10. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, "Ox Cart’s new format offers playful food, sweet drinks and a good time," 6 June 2019 Start with Tartara di Tonno, made from fresh Florida tuna, avocado mousse, rhubarb gel and a squid-ink crisp. — Holly V. Kapherr, USA TODAY, "7 romantic ways to reconnect in Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades," 4 June 2019 During his testimony before the Senate in April, Zuckerberg marked the occasion by wearing an uncharacteristic crisp suit. — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, "11 pieces of clothing that explain 2018," 20 Dec. 2018 Her crisp, all-white ensemble featured a figure-hugging blazer with a bedazzled lapel, a button-down shirt fastened all the way to the collar, and a dramatic pair of flowy, wide-legged culottes that pooled around the actor’s feet. — Andrea Park, Allure, "Blake Lively's Low Ponytail Perfectly Complements Her Sharp White Suit at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards," 21 Aug. 2018 Menu: 1 celery root soup, 1 fine lettuces salad, 1 South Gate burger, 1 warm-bacon frisée salad, 1 warm apple crisp, 2 coffees. — Fox, Town & Country, "A Table for Mr. Fox," 21 Nov. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crisp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.