crinkle

UK: /ˈkrɪŋk^əl/ US: /ˈkrɪŋkəl/ ,(kring′kəl)

Inflections of 'crinkle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

crinkles

v 3rd person singular

crinkling

v pres p

crinkled

v past

crinkled

v past p

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

crin•kle /ˈkrɪŋkəl/   v., -kled, -kling, n. 
v. 

1. to wrinkle;
   ripple:
   [no object] This fabric crinkles easily, so try not to sit on it for long.
2. to bend or twist:
   [~ + object] He crinkled the paper while he spoke.
3. to make the small sounds of wrinkling or bending;
   rustle:
   [no object] The paper crinkled in the fireplace.

n. [countable]

4. a wrinkle:
   little crinkles around the eyes.

crin•kled, adj. 
crin•kly, adj., -kli•er, -kli•est:

crinkly scraps of paper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crin•kle  (kring′kəl), v., -kled, -kling, n. 
v.t., v.i. 

1. to wrinkle;
   crimple;
   ripple.
2. to make slight, sharp sounds;
   rustle.
3. to turn or wind in many little bends and twists.

n. 

4. a wrinkle or ripple.
5. a crinkling sound.
6. a turn or twist.

• 1350–1400; Middle English crinklen; akin to Old English crincan to bend, yield, Dutch krinkelen to crinkle; see cringle, cringe, crank, -le

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crinkle / ˈkrɪŋk^əl/ verb

1. to form or cause to form wrinkles, twists, or folds
2. to make or cause to make a rustling noise

noun

1. a wrinkle, twist, or fold
2. a rustling noise

Etymology: Old English crincan to bend, give way; related to Middle Dutch krinkelen to crinkle, Middle High German krank weak, ill, krenken to weaken