Word Study
crumple
CIDE DICTIONARY
crumple, v. t. [Dim. fr. crump, a.].
To draw or press into wrinkles or folds; to crush together; to rumple; as, to crumple paper. [1913 Webster]
"They crumpled it into all shapes, and diligently scanned every wrinkle that could be made." [1913 Webster]
crumple, v. i.
To contract irregularly; to show wrinkles after being crushed together; as, leaves crumple. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
crumple, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by up) a crush or become crushed into creases. b ruffle, wrinkle.
2 intr. (often foll. by up) collapse, give way.
--n. a crease or wrinkle.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by up) a crush or become crushed into creases. b ruffle, wrinkle.
2 intr. (often foll. by up) collapse, give way.
--n. a crease or wrinkle.
Idiom
crumple zone a part of a motor vehicle, esp. the extreme front and rear, designed to crumple easily in a crash and absorb impact.
Derivative
crumply adj.
Etymology
obs. crump (v. & adj.) (make or become) curved
THESAURUS
crumple
bend, break, bristle, buckle, cave, cocker, cockle, collapse, contort, corrugate, corrugation, crankle, crease, crimp, crimple, crinkle, crook, crush, distort, fold, fold up, furrow, gnarl, go, knit, knot, mangle, pucker, purse, ridge, rimple, ripple, rivel, ruck, ruckle, ruffle, rumple, screw, scrunch, set on edge, shirr, spring, turn, turn awry, twist, wad, warp, wimple, wrench, wrest, wring, wrinkle, writhe, yieldROGET THESAURUS
crumple
Roughness
VB be rough, go against the grain, render-rough, roughen, ruffle, crisp, crumple, corrugate, set on edge, stroke the wrong way, rumple.Fold
N fold, plicature, plait, pleat, ply, crease, tuck, gather, flexion, flexure, joint, elbow, double, doubling, duplicature, gather, wrinkle, rimple, crinkle, crankle, crumple, rumple, rivel, ruck, ruffle, dog's ear, corrugation, frounce, flounce, lapel, pucker, crow's feet, plication, folded, fluted, pleated.VB fold, double, plicate, plait, crease, wrinkle, crinkle, crankle, curl, cockle up, cocker, rimple, rumple, flute, frizzle, frounce, rivel, twill, corrugate, ruffle, crimple, crumple, pucker, turn down, double down, down under, tuck, ruck, hem, gather.
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