crisp
crisp Lexical Profile
crisp Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
(Especially of food) firm, dry, and brittle, making a sharp cracking sound when bitten or crushed.
"She bit into a crisp autumn apple."
Smooth, clean, and stiff, without creases or wrinkles; or (of an image or sound) sharply defined and clear.
"He wore a crisp white shirt to the interview."
(Of weather or air) cool, fresh, and invigorating.
"We went for a morning walk in the crisp mountain air."
(Of a manner of speaking, writing, or acting) brisk, decisive, and concise, without unnecessary detail.
"The chairperson gave a crisp summary of the committee's findings."
• noun
British A thin slice of potato fried or baked until crunchy and eaten cold as a snack (called a potato chip in North America).
"She bought a packet of salt and vinegar crisps to go with her sandwich."
North American A baked dessert consisting of fruit topped with a crumbly, crunchy mixture of flour, butter, sugar, and often oats.
"We served warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream."
Something that has been burned, fried, or cooked until it is completely dry, hard, and charred.
"He forgot about the toast under the broiler and burned it to a crisp."
• verb
To make or become firm, dry, brittle, and crunchy, especially by heating or baking.
"Place the flatbread in a hot oven for five minutes to crisp the edges."
• Rhymes for crisp
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'crisp' (meaning 'curled'), borrowed from Latin 'crispus' ('curled, wrinkled, or having curly hair'). The sense of 'brittle and crunchy' developed in the 16th century, likely from the way food curls and shrivels when fried or roasted.