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.
Phrases and idioms:
crumple zone a part of a motor vehicle, esp. the extreme front and rear, designed to crumple easily in a crash and absorb impact.
Derivatives:
crumply adj.
Etymology: obs. crump (v. & adj.) (make or become) curved