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

From start to finish, ensuring a final product that's juicy and tender on the inside and crisp and brown on the outside is going to take time. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "How to Cook Perfectly Crispy Chicken Thighs Every Time," 25 Feb. 2019 Cook, tossing the bread occasionally, until crisp and lightly golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. — Woman's Day, "Roasted Citrus Chicken Salad," 15 Feb. 2019 In 5- to 6-quart saucepot, cook bacon on medium high 7 to 8 minutes or until crisp and browned, stirring occasionally. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Maple-Glazed Brussels Sprouts," 23 Oct. 2018 While many think of drinking a chilled cider in the fall months, the crisp flavors taste just as fresh in warmer weather. — Lauren Sheffield, Harper's BAZAAR, "Forget Rosé: These Are the Wines You Need to Be Sipping," 26 July 2018 Winter brings distinct flavors and textures to dishes, very different from the bold, crisp flavors of summer. — Discover Magazine, "One-on-One with Executive Chef Kevin Erving," 6 July 2018 German pilsners give off a pale gold color and crisp flavor, while Czech pilsners are a little darker with higher bitterness. — Mahita Gajanan, Time, "How to Talk About Beer Like a Pro on National Beer Day," 7 Apr. 2018 The dish is a standard at high-end restaurants and scruffy takeout shops alike, wherever there is a market for the sweet-salty-crisp flavors that Americans claim as a birthright. — Sam Sifton, New York Times, "The Best Beef and Broccoli, No Delivery Required," 4 Apr. 2018 Expand your kitchen-herb vocabulary beyond the usual parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme with this green's crisp, cool cucumber flavor. — Country Living Staff, Country Living, "17 of the Best Indoor Plants to Make Your Home Feel Unique," 6 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Cook until tortillas crisp further and cheese melts, about 1 minute more. — Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, "These Quesadillas Are Easy to Make, Easy to Love," 28 Sep. 2018 Recipes will typically call for oil in the 350 to 375 degrees F range in order for the breading to crisp on contact. — Francine Maroukian, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Deep Fryers—and How to Fry Anything," 14 Nov. 2018 Stale Toast stale chips and crackers for a minute or two in a regular or toaster oven to crisp them right back up. — Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, "Don't waste it: How to revive food that is stale, burned, over-salted," 18 Apr. 2018 Participants will learn how to make dough, and then use it to make pizzas with fresh mozzarella, pesto and heirloom tomatoes; grilled peach, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar; and crisped chorizo, manchego and piquillo peppers. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Learn how to make pizza on the grill at Sur la Table," 1 July 2018 Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, without stirring, until bottoms are browned and edges begin to crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Korean-Style Beef and Apple Lettuce Cups," 9 Oct. 2018 Snider basically requires the re-creation of a restaurant kitchen in full-blown operation: steaks on the grill, veal stock simmering, fries crisping. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Attention foodies: 'How to Use a Knife' is about a New York chef on the edge," 14 May 2018 Case in point: a sweet potato broiled until creamy on the inside, then tossed into the fire until the skin is crisped, served with bone marrow salsa negra and warm tortillas. — Jenna Scatena, Condé Nast Traveler, "32 Best Restaurants in San Francisco," 1 Mar. 2018 For heating and crisping up one or two servings of food, this small machine was both efficient and effective. — Ben Mims, WSJ, "Could This Appliance Replace Your Oven?," 16 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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 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

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.