crisp
KRISP
/krɪsp/
Firm, dry, and brittle, breaking easily with a clean snap or pleasant crunch.
Denotes fresh, perfectly baked, or pleasantly firm texture without soggy or soft qualities.
The story behind the word. Originates from Latin 'crispus' (curled or wrinkled). In Old English, 'crysp' referred to curled hair, but over time it shifted to describe stiff, dry, brittle textures that snap.
Word relationships
- crunchy: 'Crunchy' implies a hard texture requiring significant chewing force, whereas 'crisp' implies a light, brittle snap.
- soggy: 'Soggy' describes food that is heavy, wet, and limp.
Commonly confused with
- brittle: 'Brittle' describes something hard that easily breaks into sharp shards, whereas 'crisp' emphasizes fresh, pleasant culinary firm snaps.
Word family
- crispy (adjective): Pleasantly thin, dry, and crunchy.
- crispness (noun): The quality of being dry, firm, and brittle.
Collocations
- crisp crust
- crisp texture
- baked crisp
- crisp skin
Idioms & expressions
- crisp as a cucumber
Example sentences
- "The exterior of the baguette was wonderfully crisp, offering a resounding crunch with every bite." Food Critique
Memory hook
CRISP crackers SNAP with a clear sound. Brittle Snap = Crisp
When not to use
Do not use to describe soft, chewy, or rubbery textures.
Fun facts
- In British English, 'crisps' refers to thin potato chips, while in American English 'crisp' often describes a baked fruit dessert with a crunchy oat topping.
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