crisp

UK: /ˈkrɪsp/ US: /krɪsp/ ,(krisp)

Inflections of 'crisp' (adj):

crisper

adj comparative

crispest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crisp /krɪsp/   adj., -er, -est, n. 
adj. Also, crisp•y, -i•er, -i•est. 

1. Food hard but brittle:
   crisp crackers.
2. Food firm and fresh:
   crisp lettuce.
3. clear;
   quick;
   precise:
   a crisp reply.
4. brisk;
   unfriendly or cool:
   His tone was crisp and formal.
5. bracing;
   cold but giving a feeling of vigor:
   crisp weather.
6. lively;
   pithy:
   a crisp tempo.

n. [countable]

7. British Terms Brit. potato chip.
8. Food a dessert of apples or other fruit baked with a crunchy topping of crumbs, sugar, etc.:
   an apple crisp.

crisp•er, n. [countable]
crisp•ly, adv.: 

answered crisply that it was none of my business.

crisp•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crisp  (krisp), adj., -er, -est, v., n. 
adj. 

1. Food (esp. of food) hard but easily breakable;
   brittle:
   crisp toast.
2. Food (esp. of food) firm and fresh;
   not soft or wilted:
   a crisp leaf of lettuce.
3. brisk;
   sharp;
   clear;
   decided:
   a crisp reply.
4. lively;
   pithy;
   sparkling:
   crisp repartee.
5. clean-cut, neat, and well-pressed;
   well-groomed.
6. bracing;
   invigorating:
   crisp air.
7. crinkled, wrinkled, or rippled, as skin or water.
8. in small, stiff, or firm curls;
   curly.

v.t., v.i. 

9. Food to make or become crisp.
10. to curl.

n. 

11. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] See potato chip. 
12. Food a dessert of fruit, as apples or apricots, baked with a crunchy mixture, usually of bread crumbs, chopped nutmeats, butter, and brown sugar.

• Latin crispus curled
• Middle English, Old English bef. 900

crisp′ly, adv. 
crisp′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. brisk, fresh, nippy.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crisp / krɪsp/ adjective

1. dry and brittle
2. fresh and firm
3. invigorating or bracing: a crisp breeze
4. clear; sharp: crisp reasoning
5. lively or stimulating
6. clean and orderly; neat
7. concise and pithy; terse
8. wrinkled or curly: crisp hair

verb

1. to make or become crisp

noun

1. a very thin slice of potato fried and eaten cold as a snack
2. something that is crisp

Etymology: Old English, from Latin crispus curled, uneven, wrinkled

ˈcrisply adverb

ˈcrispness noun