wrinkle

UK: /ˈrɪŋk^əl/ US: /ˈrɪŋkəl/ ,(ring′kəl)

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

wrinkles

v 3rd person singular

wrinkling

v pres p

wrinkled

v past

wrinkled

v past p

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

wrin•kle¹ /ˈrɪŋkəl/   n., v., -kled, -kling. 
n. [countable]

1. a small crease in the skin, as from aging.
2. a slight ridge in a fabric, as from folding.
3. a problem;
   fault:
   There are still a few wrinkles in the plan.
4. Informal Terms a creative, new idea:
   adding some wrinkles to the plan to make it unique.

v. 

5. to (cause to) become full of wrinkles: [no object]
   This fabric wrinkles easily.
   [~ + object]
   wrinkled his forehead by frowning.

wrin•kly, adj., -kli•er, -kli•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

wrin•kle¹  (ring′kəl), n., v., -kled, -kling. 
n. 

1. a small furrow or crease in the skin, esp. of the face, as from aging or frowning.
2. a temporary slight ridge or furrow on a surface, due to contraction, folding, crushing, or the like.

v.t. 

3. to form wrinkles in;
   corrugate;
   crease:
   Don't wrinkle your dress.

v.i. 

4. to become wrinkled.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun, nominal), back formation from wrinkled, Old English gewrinclod, past participle of gewrinclian to wind round; perh. akin to wrick, wrench

wrin•kle²  (ring′kəl), n. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms an ingenious trick or device;
   a clever innovation:
   a new advertising wrinkle.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent. to wrinc trick (Old English wrenc; see wrench) + -le

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wrinkle / ˈrɪŋk^əl/ noun

1. a slight ridge in the smoothness of a surface, such as a crease in the skin as a result of age

verb

1. to make or become wrinkled, as by crumpling, creasing, or puckering

Etymology: 15th Century: back formation from wrinkled, from Old English gewrinclod, past participle of wrinclian to wind around; related to Swedish vrinka to sprain, Lithuanian reñgti to twist. See wrench

ˈwrinkleless adjective

ˈwrinkly adjective

wrinkle / ˈrɪŋk^əl/ noun

1. a clever or useful trick, hint, or dodge

Etymology: Old English wrenc trick; related to Middle Low German wrank struggle, Middle High German ranc sudden turn. See wrench