Wrinkled
/ˈrɪŋkəld/
adjectiveverbB1past tense, past participle (for verb); adjective form derived from verb
Definition
Wrinkled describes something that has many small lines or folds, usually because it is old, crushed, or has been bent. It is often used for skin that has aged or fabric that is not smooth. As a verb, it means to cause these lines or folds to appear.
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See It in Action
Having small lines or folds on the surface (adjective)
- •Her wrinkled skin showed her many years of experience.
- •The wrinkled shirt needed ironing before the meeting.
- •Leaves turned brown and wrinkled in the dry season.
To cause small lines or folds to appear (verb)
- •He wrinkled his forehead in confusion.
- •The fabric wrinkled after being packed tightly.
- •She wrinkled her nose when she smelled something bad.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "wrinkled" like "folded," but the folds are small and many, not big and few
- ✓Picture an old apple with small lines on its skin or a shirt left in a pile with many small lines
- ✓It's the feeling when you touch soft skin that has small lines or when you see a crumpled paper
- ✓Sounds like "rinkled" → imagine a small rink (ice area) with many tiny cracks or lines on the surface
- ✓Remember the story of an old grandmother’s hands that are wrinkled from many years of work and life
- ✓NOT like "smooth" (flat and even), wrinkled means uneven with many small lines
- ✓NOT like "crumpled" (big, messy folds), wrinkled is smaller, finer lines or folds
- ✓As an action, wrinkling is usually caused by bending, aging, or squeezing something soft
Try Other Words
- •Creased: having lines from being folded or pressed (Use when talking about paper or fabric with clear lines)
- •Lined: having lines, especially on skin (Use when referring to age lines on skin)
- •Crumpled: crushed into a messy shape with many folds (Use when the surface is messy and uneven, not neat small lines)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "wrinkle" + suffix "-ed" (shows past action or describes state)
- •Etymology: From Old English "wrincle," meaning a small fold or crease
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to describe small folds in skin or cloth
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe aged skin, fabric, or any surface with small folds or lines
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when you see wrinkled clothes or skin? Does it change your thoughts about age or care?
•Can something wrinkled still be beautiful or valuable? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.When fabric is left in a pile, it often becomes wrinkled because it ___ smoothness.
2.People’s skin usually becomes wrinkled as they ___ older.
3.Wrinkled is different from crumpled because wrinkled means many ___ small lines, not big folds.
4.She wrinkled her forehead to show she was ___ about the question.
5.The wrinkled paper had many ___ lines that made it hard to write on.
6.Wrinkled clothes often need ___ to look neat again.
7.When you see wrinkled skin, you can often ___ that the person is older or has spent time in the sun.