Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Pleasantly firm and fresh; easily broken or crumbled: Describes food, especially fruits, vegetables, or baked goods, that are fresh, firm, and make a sharp sound when broken or bitten.
   • Pleasantly cold and invigorating: Describes weather or air that is cold in a refreshing and stimulating way.
   • Brief, clear, and effective: Describes a style of speaking, writing, or behavior that is concise, decisive, and lively.
   • Tightly curled: Describes hair that forms small, tight curls.
   • Sharply defined; clear: Describes something seen or heard that is very clear and distinct.

2. Noun:

   • A thin, crisp slice of potato fried in deep fat: Refers to a potato chip (British English) or a similar thin, crunchy snack.

3. Verb:

   • To make or become crisp by heating: To cook something until it is brown and crunchy.
   • To make wrinkles or creases: To cause a smooth surface to become lined or folded.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The salad was made with crisp lettuce and fresh cucumbers. (Describing fresh, firm food.)
  • We went for a walk in the crisp autumn air. (Describing refreshingly cold weather.)
  • She gave a crisp reply to the question. (Describing a concise and decisive manner.)
  • He has a head of crisp, curly hair. (Describing tightly curled hair.)
  • The photograph was beautifully crisp. (Describing a sharply defined image.)

• Noun:

  • He opened a bag of crisps to share. (Referring to potato chips.)

• Verb:

  • Crisp the bacon in the oven for ten minutes. (Cooking until crunchy.)
  • The old paper had crisped and yellowed with age. (Becoming dry and brittle.)
  • She crisped the fabric with an iron. (Making it slightly wrinkled or giving it a fresh finish—note: this is a less common, specialized use related to textile finishing).

Advanced Usage

• "Crisp up": To make something crisp or crisper.
  • Toast the bread to crisp it up.
• In a figurative sense: Used to describe something that is efficiently neat or sharp.
  • He saluted in a crisp military manner.
  • The company's new logo has a crisp, modern design.

Variants and Related Words

• Crispy (adj): An informal synonym for , often used specifically for food that is pleasantly crunchy (e.g., ).
• Crisply (adv): In a crisp manner.
  • She answered crisply.
• Crispness (n): The quality of being crisp.
  • I love the crispness of fresh apples.

Synonyms

• Adjective (for texture): Crunchy, brittle, crispy.
• Adjective (for weather): Brisk, nippy, invigorating.
• Adjective (for manner/style): Terse, concise, laconic, brisk.
• Noun: Chip (US English), potato chip.
• Verb: Toast, brown, crunch.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Crisp up: To become or make something crisp.
  • Leave the fries in the oven a bit longer to crisp up.

Related Idioms

• "Crisp as a new dollar bill": Very neat, fresh, and unwrinkled. (Primarily US English)
  • His uniform was as crisp as a new dollar bill.
• "Crisp and clear": Very easy to hear or see; unambiguous.
  • The instructions were crisp and clear.

Adjective

1. brief and to the point; effectively cut short; `yes'"
   • a crisp retort
   • a response so curt as to be almost rude
   • the laconic reply
   • short and terse and easy to understand
2. (of hair) in small tight curls
3. pleasingly firm and fresh
   • crisp lettuce
4. pleasantly cold and invigorating
   • crisp clear nights and frosty mornings
   • a nipping wind
   • a nippy fall day
   • snappy weather
5. tender and brittle
   • crisp potato chips
6. (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
   • a sharp photographic image
   • the sharp crack of a twig
   • the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot

Noun

1. a thin crisp slice of potato fried in deep fat

Verb

1. make brown and crisp by heating
   • toast bread
   • crisp potatoes
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