Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, often irregular fold, ridge, or crease, especially in a surface like skin, paper, or fabric.
   • A slight depression or line that breaks an otherwise smooth surface.

2. Verb:

   • To form or cause to form small folds, wrinkles, or ripples.
   • To become or make something slightly crumpled or creased.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The old map was covered in crinkles from being folded for years.
  • She smiled, and a friendly crinkle appeared at the corner of her eye.

• Verb:

  • The foil wrapper will crinkle if you squeeze it.
  • Please don't crinkle the important documents.

Advanced Usage

• "to crinkle one's nose": to wrinkle one's nose slightly, often expressing distaste, thought, or a reaction to a smell.
  • She crinkled her nose at the strong odor.
• Describing sound: The verb can describe a light, crackling or rustling sound.
  • The dry leaves crinkled under our feet.

Variants and Related Words

• Crinkly (adj): Full of crinkles; having a wrinkled or wavy texture.
  • The crinkly texture of the potato chips.
• Crinkled (adj): Having crinkles; wrinkled.
  • He held out a crinkled piece of paper.

Synonyms

• Noun: wrinkle, crease, fold, line, ridge, rumple.
• Verb: wrinkle, crease, crumple, rumple, pucker, ruffle.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Crinkle up: To crush or squeeze something so that it becomes full of crinkles.
  • He crinkled up the candy wrapper and threw it away.

Related Idioms

• While not a common idiom itself, "crinkle" often appears in descriptive phrases related to eyes and smiles, conveying warmth or age.
  • His eyes crinkled with laughter.

Noun

1. a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
   • his face has many lines
   • ironing gets rid of most wrinkles

Verb

1. become wrinkled or crumpled or creased
   • This fabric won't wrinkle
2. make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in
   • The dress got wrinkled
   • crease the paper like this to make a crane