Crimp as noun
/krɪmp/
nounB2
Definition
A crimp is a small fold, bend, or ridge made in a material like metal, fabric, or paper. It is often used to fasten or join things securely, or to create a special shape or pattern. For example, crimping can join two wires or make a decorative edge on a pie.
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⚡ See It in Action
A small fold or ridge made in a material for fastening or decoration
- •The crimp on the metal wire held the connector firmly in place.
- •She made a crimped edge on the pie crust to make it look pretty.
- •The fabric had small crimps to create a textured pattern.
A type of wave or bend in hair (less common but related)
- •She styled her hair with crimps to give it a wavy look.
- •The crimp in her hair made it look fuller and more interesting.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "crimp" like "fold" (A1 word), but smaller and often stronger or decorative, not just any fold
- ✓Picture the edge of a pie crust with its wavy, folded pattern that holds the filling inside
- ✓It is the feeling of something tightly pinched or pressed together, like when you pinch your fingers
- ✓Sounds like "crimp" → imagine a small clip or clamp that crimps (presses) something tightly
- ✓Think of a time when you sealed a plastic bag by folding and pressing the edge to keep food fresh
- ✓NOT like "wrinkle" (which is soft and random), a crimp is a neat, intentional fold or ridge
- ✓NOT like "crease" (which is usually a single line), a crimp often has a repeated pattern of small folds
- ✓NOT like "clip" (which holds without changing shape), a crimp changes the material by folding or bending it
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Pleat: a neat fold in fabric (Use when talking about clothing or fabric with regular folds)
- •Ridge: a raised line or edge (Use when emphasizing the raised shape rather than the fold)
- •Crease: a line made by folding or pressing (Use for a simple line fold, usually in paper or fabric)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) root word "crimp"
- •Etymology: From Middle English "crympen," meaning to contract or draw together
- •Historical development: Originally meant to make something smaller by folding or pressing; later used for folds or bends in materials
- •Modern usage: Used in crafts, hair styling, electrical work (to join wires), and cooking (pie crust edges)
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does a crimp help make objects stronger or more secure in everyday life?
•Can you think of other places where small folds or crimps are important for function or decoration?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The crimp on the metal wire was made to ___ the connector firmly in place.
2.When baking, you create a crimp on the pie crust edge to ___ the filling inside.
3.Unlike a wrinkle, a crimp is a ___ and intentional fold or ridge.
4.Hair stylists use crimps to give hair a ___ and textured look.
5.You often see crimps in fabric where a ___ pattern is needed.
6.A crimp changes the material by ___ or bending it tightly.
7.To keep the bag closed, she made a crimp by folding and pressing the ___ edge.