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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about crisp

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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

Her Sweet Whispers are crisp, yet airy little cookies with key lime, passion fruit, blackberry or raspberry preserves tucked inside; more flavors are on the way. — Florence Fabricant, New York Times, "Light as Air and Filled With Flavor," 2 July 2018 Every touch has to be crisp, or you risk being ripped apart by a punishing opposition. — Avi Creditor, SI.com, "USMNT Closes Camp, Awkward Period With Nice Lasting Impression vs. France," 9 June 2018 Add salmon fillets skin-side down and let cook for 3 minutes, until the skin is crisp. — Yotam Ottolenghi, sacbee, "Salmon – want it easy, or want it epic?," 5 June 2018 Return to oven and bake, rotating pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through, until bacon is crisp, 10–15 minutes (time will vary depending on your preferred level of crispiness). — Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit, "Maple-Sriracha Glazed Bacon," 28 May 2018 The pace of practice overall was crisp, with a heavy emphasis on group and individual drills (which could be attributed to OTAs). — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions' new defense as versatile as advertised at OTAs," 24 May 2018 Bake until cheese has melted and bread is crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Quick & Easy Recipes," 22 Jan. 2018 Made from a blend of Central Coast Grenache and Syrah, the rosé is crisp with fruit-forward notes of strawberry and white peach. — Sunset, "Rosé All Day? Get Your Fix with This Subscription Service," 22 Jan. 2018 The suit, which included a crisp vest and jacket, featured wide-leg trousers that pulled the entire outfit together. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Emma Watson Wears White Three-Piece Suit at Wimbledon," 14 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Cook, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the burgers crisp a little on the bottom, then turn them over and season with the remaining salt and pepper. — Jim Shahin, chicagotribune.com, "The best way to grill a burger keeps it off the grate," 26 June 2018 The tuna, like the mushroom pasta, had cooled too much before being served, but crisped salmon with citrus-herb dressing ($21) on another visit arrived at the table hot. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stella Van Buren’s looks outdazzle the food," 30 Jan. 2018 Cooked, cooled, cut and crisped, grits make a compact cushion for eggs, sausage or spicy shrimp. — Leah Eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Grits cakes make crispy cushion for spicy shrimp," 9 July 2018 Lay in skins, crisp side up, and sizzle 1-2 minutes, to crisp the underside and render any clinging fat. — Leah Eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Duck subs for pork in easy carnitas tacos recipe," 23 May 2018 Cook, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the burgers crisp a little on the bottom, then turn them over and season with the remaining salt and pepper. — Jim Shahin, chicagotribune.com, "The best way to grill a burger keeps it off the grate," 26 June 2018 To the victor goes the browned and crisped layer of cheese clinging to the bottom of the skillet. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "El Patrón in Walker's Point is a new but familiar Mexican restaurant," 19 June 2018 The plain cake is lightly crisped with a touch of sweetness; the raised and glazed is light as a feather with excellent flavor; and the chocolate cake has just a touch of bitter cocoa. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "10 best donuts in Phoenix: I tried 400, sorry Dunkin' Donuts, you didn't make the cut," 30 May 2018 The California native took on a British accent, and his brown hair was crisped and brightened with peroxide. — Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, "‘Buffy’ vampire James Marsters comes out in the daylight for Comicpalooza," 23 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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 For extra-crisp, golden skin, broil the chicken for the last few minutes of cooking time. — Multiple Authors, House Beautiful, "Herb-Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sage," 1 Sep. 2010 Kissed with heat and honey, and finished with a cheesy crisp, these babies are made marvelous with a few simple tricks. — Mallorie Sullivan, Cincinnati.com, "Fourth of July food: Here are 9 last-minute recipes your guests will love," 3 July 2018 The tart sip combined with the sudden crisp from the wine makes this a nice, complex drink. — Paula Forbes, GQ, "What to Drink With Your Burgers This Summer," 30 June 2018 On the other hand, a salmon dish was a tad chalky, cooked just past the perfect point of moistness, despite a good crisp on the skin. — Kate Washington, sacbee, "It's not flashy or splashy, but Roseville's Ciao excels at cooking classic Italian," 8 June 2018 Grease a 1 ½- to 2-quart baking dish or make individual crisps using ramekins. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Rhubarb: How to cook, store, freeze the perfect pie plant," 29 May 2018 The daily list of sweets happened to include a mixed berry crisp during a recent dinner visit. — Lindsey Mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "For breakfast (or any other meal) you can't go wrong at North End Cafe," 23 May 2018

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.