crumple Definition
crum·ple (krum′pəl)
transitive verb -·pled, -·pling
- to crush together into creases or wrinkles
- to cause to collapse
Etymology: ME crumplen, var. of crimplen, to wrinkle, freq. of crimpen, crimp
intransitive verb
- to become crumpled
- to fall or break down; collapse
noun
a crease or wrinkle
crumple Synonyms
crumple
v.
crumple Usage Examples
Object
- paper: Don't lean on a document or volume - this will crumple the paper or break the spine of a book.
- face: I noticed also from the composed but slightly crumpled faces in the group, that something very special was happening.
- letter: The letter crumpled in her hands, her vision blurred then tunneled to a narrow point of white light.
- noise: Improbable and the National Theater of Scotland present A Musical Pandemonium There are sneaking, creeping, crumpling noises coming from inside the walls.
- body: Blood poured out on the floor and his body crumpled into a pile.
Preposition: on
floor: How does it feel to be crumpled on the floor?
Preposition: into
- ball: The paper is crumpled into a small ball and placed in their pocket.
- heap: Melvin vomited, and crumpled into a heap on the floor, bleeding from the nose.
Modifies a noun
- zone: Crumple zones, airbags, seat belts, rigid frames, for example, are all designed to protect people within a vehicle.
- virus: Effect of cotton leaf crumple virus on cotton inoculated at different growth stages.
- test: If your tortillas have passed the crumple test you needn't worry about this.
Modifying Another Word
- all: Them folks who had given the matter a little thought handed the ballots back all crumpled up.
- then: But the Swans then crumpled twice inside a minute around the hour mark to gift Oxford the three points.
- slightly: This slightly crumpled old picture was probably taken around 1893.
- just: It accounts for why so many houses just crumpled like packs of cards and why older or more solid buildings remained intact.
- n't: To avoid blisters you want socks that wo n't crumple down into your shoes.
- completely: With a little luck they wouldn't rupture and would be completely crumpled up.
Noun used with modifier
leaf: Effect of cotton leaf crumple virus on cotton inoculated at different growth stages.
Particle object:
paper: Is someone now crumpling up wax paper or splitting a seam on his pants?
Preposition: in
heap: I then backed through the door and crumpled in a heap.

