I. crisp 1 /krɪsp/ BrE AmE noun [countable] British English
a very thin flat round piece of potato that is cooked in oil and eaten cold ⇨ chip SYN potato chip American English :
a packet of crisps
II. crisp 2 BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: crisp 'curly' (10-20 centuries) , from Latin crispus ]
1 . HARD something that is crisp is hard, and makes a pleasant sound when you break it or crush it:
She kicked at the crisp leaves at her feet.
He stepped carefully through the crisp deep snow.
2 . FOOD food that is crisp is pleasantly hard or firm when you bite it SYN crispy OPP soggy :
a crisp green salad
a crisp juicy apple
Cook the pastry until it is crisp and golden.
The meat should be nice and crisp on the outside.
3 . PAPER/CLOTH paper or cloth that is crisp is fresh, clean, and new SYN fresh :
a crisp new five-dollar bill
crisp cotton sheets
4 . WEATHER weather that is crisp is cold and dry OPP humid :
The air was fresh and crisp.
a crisp clear autumn day
The weather remained crisp and dry.
5 . PEOPLE if someone behaves or speaks in a crisp way, they are confident, polite, and firm, but not very friendly:
Her tone was crisp and businesslike.
6 . PICTURE/SOUND a picture or sound that is crisp is clear SYN sharp :
an old recording that still sounds remarkably crisp
—crisply adverb :
‘Take a seat,’ she said crisply.
—crispness noun [uncountable]
III. crisp 3 BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
to become crisp or make something become crisp by cooking or heating it:
Cook the chicken until the skin is nicely crisped.