noun

wrinkle

RIHNGKL

Wrinkle (noun) means a small crease or fold in an otherwise smooth surface, especially skin or fabric. Example: “She noticed new wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled.”

noun

A small crease or fold in an otherwise smooth surface, especially skin or fabric.

"She noticed new wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled."

A small problem or imperfection that still needs to be resolved.

"There are a few wrinkles to iron out before the product launches."

verb

To form small creases or folds in something.

"The shirt wrinkled badly after being packed in the suitcase."

How to use wrinkle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small crease in skin or fabric, or a minor problem that still needs fixing.

Common pairings

iron out the wrinkles a wrinkle in the plan anti-wrinkle cream

Word forms

wrinkled past tense, wrinkles plural, wrinkles plural, Wrinkles plural, wrinkles singular

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She noticed new _____ around her eyes when she smiled.

Etymology

From Middle English wrinkle, wrynkel (“crease, fold, wrinkle”), from the verb (see below). Cognate with Dutch wrinkel (“wrinkle, crease”). Compare also Middle English runkel (“wrinkle”), from Old Norse hrukka (“wrinkle”), from Proto-Germanic *hrunkwǭ (“wrinkle, crease”), whence also French fronce (“crooked smile, scowl, frown”), German Runzel (“wrinkle”), Danish rynke (“wrinkle”), Swedish rynka and rynkla (“wrinkle”).

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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line purse crisp seam crease furrow rumple crumple ruckle crinkle scrunch scrunch up

Related words

business line course job blood cool completely stock

Rhymes for wrinkle

winkle tinkle Hinkle twinkle sprinkle periwinkle

See all rhymes for wrinkle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wrinkle” mean?

The word “wrinkle” means a small crease or fold in an otherwise smooth surface, especially skin or fabric. In plain terms, a small crease in skin or fabric, or a minor problem that still needs fixing.

How do you pronounce “wrinkle”?

“Wrinkle” is pronounced RIHNGKL (/ˈɹɪŋkl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “wrinkle” in a sentence?

Here is “wrinkle” used in a sentence: “She noticed new wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled.”

What part of speech is “wrinkle”?

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

How many meanings does “wrinkle” have?

“Wrinkle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small crease or fold in an otherwise smooth surface, especially skin or fabric.

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