crimp

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈkrimp 

crimped; crimping; crimps

transitive verb

1

: to cause to become wavy, bent, or pinched: such as

a

: to form (leather) into a desired shape

b

: to give (synthetic fibers) a curl or wave like that of natural fibers

c

: to pinch or press together (something, such as the margins of a pie crust) in order to seal

2

: to be an inhibiting or restraining influence on : cramp

sales had been crimped by credit controls

—Time

crimper

ˈkrim-pər 

noun

crimp

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: something produced by or as if by crimping: such as

a

: a section of hair artificially waved or curled

b

: a succession of waves (as in wool fiber)

c

: a bend or crease formed in something

2

: something that cramps or inhibits : restraint, curb

crimp

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a person who entraps or forces men into shipping as sailors or into enlisting in an army or navy

crimp

4 of 4

verb (2)

crimped; crimping; crimps

transitive verb

: to trap into military or sea service : impress

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• crease
• crinkle
• furrow
• wrinkle

Examples of crimp in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a small crimp in the dollar bill prevented it from being accepted by the bill changer

made a tiny little crimp in the corner of the Queen of Spades

the strike could put a real crimp in the production schedule

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Retro crimps and curls Backstage at Chet Lo. Jack Eames for Authentic Beauty Concept For those who assumed that the Y2K trend had come and gone, rest assured that elements of the era are still snaking their way into the hairdos of the forthcoming year. —Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025

This would all be very sweet (sorry, not sorry, Fields), but there’s a crimp in the situation. —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025

Verb

Stocks tumbled on Monday as Wall Street braced for the impact of steep new tariffs ordered by President Trump, with mounting fears the new import duties could spark a trade war that could crimp corporate profits and dampen consumer spending. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2025

High interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and weakness in China, the region’s largest and most important economy, have crimped risk appetites across venture capital firms. 2024 proved to be even worse. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Dutch or Low German krimpen to shrivel; akin to Middle Dutch crampe hook, cramp

Noun (2)

perhaps from crimp entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1718, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing crimp

• put a crimp in

Rhymes for crimp

• blimp
• chimp
• imp
• limp
• pimp
• shrimp
• skimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

crimp

1 of 2 verb

ˈkrimp 

1

: to make wavy or bent

2

: to pinch or press together

crimp the edges of a pie crust

crimp

2 of 2 noun

1

: something produced by or as if by crimping

2

: something that holds back