verb

crimp

krihmp

Crimp (verb) means to press or bend something into small folds or ridges. Example: “She used a special iron to crimp the edges of the pie crust.”

verb

To press or bend something into small folds or ridges.

"She used a special iron to crimp the edges of the pie crust."

To fasten two pieces of metal together by squeezing or bending them.

"The electrician crimped the wire connector to secure the cable."

noun

A tight wave or kink, especially in hair.

"Her hair had a crimp from being braided overnight."

Informal: something that restricts or limits (usually in the phrase "put a crimp in").

"The rain put a real crimp in our picnic plans."

How to use crimp

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo bend, pleat, or squeeze something into a fixed shape, or a tight wave in hair.

Common pairings

crimp your hair put a crimp in something crimp the edges

Word forms

crimped past tense, crimped past tense, crimps plural, crimps plural, crimps singular, crimps singular

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She used a special iron to _____ the edges of the pie crust.

Etymology

From Middle English crimpen, "to draw together or shrink," related to Dutch krimpen and ultimately the same root as "cramp."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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bend fold pinch crease kink crape frizz flexure crimper frizzle kink up plication

Related words

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Rhymes for crimp

imp simp pimp gimp limp wimp blimp skimp shrimp

See all rhymes for crimp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “crimp” mean?

The word “crimp” means to press or bend something into small folds or ridges. In plain terms, to bend, pleat, or squeeze something into a fixed shape, or a tight wave in hair.

How do you pronounce “crimp”?

“Crimp” is pronounced krihmp (/kɹɪmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “crimp” in a sentence?

Here is “crimp” used in a sentence: “She used a special iron to crimp the edges of the pie crust.”

What part of speech is “crimp”?

Depending on how it is used, “crimp” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “crimp” come from?

The word “crimp” comes from Middle English. From Middle English crimpen, "to draw together or shrink," related to Dutch krimpen and ultimately the same root as "cramp.".

How many meanings does “crimp” have?

“Crimp” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to press or bend something into small folds or ridges.

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