# crisp

/ˈkɹɪsp/ (US) · /kɹˈɪsp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crisp
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. firm and brittle food

adjective · CEFR A2

food that is pleasantly hard and breaks easily when you bite it.

For teachers: describing a firm, dry, and brittle texture that breaks with a sharp sound when bitten or crushed.

- The lettuce in the salad was fresh and crisp.
- To ensure the pastry remains crisp, avoid adding the fruit filling until immediately before the tart is served.

### 2. cold and clear weather

adjective · CEFR B1

weather that is pleasantly cold, dry, and clear.

For teachers: referring to air or weather that is invigoratingly cool, dry, and clear.

- We went for a long walk on a crisp autumn morning.
- The crisp mountain air provided a welcome relief from the stifling humidity of the valley below.

### 3. clear and tidy

adjective · CEFR B2

clean, new, or easy to see and hear.

For teachers: characterised by clarity, sharpness of outline, or a clean, pressed appearance.

- He wore a crisp white shirt to his job interview.
- The photograph was remarkably crisp, showing every detail of the distant shoreline despite the fading light.

### 4. concise speech

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

a way of speaking that is quick, clear, and uses few words.

For teachers: describing a style of communication that is brief, decisive, and clear without being rude.

- She gave a crisp reply and went back to her work.
- The CEO's crisp instructions left no room for ambiguity regarding the upcoming merger.

### 5. potato snack

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a very thin, fried slice of potato eaten as a snack.

For teachers: a thin slice of potato fried or baked until brittle. In American English, these are called 'chips'.

- He bought a bag of salt and vinegar crisps from the shop.
- The pub offers a variety of artisanal crisps to accompany their selection of local ales.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'crisps'.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware that 'crisp' in the UK is 'chip' in the US, while a UK 'chip' is a US 'french fry'.

### 6. fruit dessert

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a dessert made of fruit baked with a crunchy topping.

For teachers: a dessert consisting of fruit baked with a crumbly topping of flour, sugar, and butter.

- We had a warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
- The recipe for rhubarb crisp requires a generous amount of oats in the topping to achieve the desired texture.

### 7. to make crunchy

verb · CEFR B2

to make something become hard and crunchy by cooking it.

For teachers: to make or become crisp, typically through the application of heat.

- Put the bacon under the grill for a few minutes to crisp it up.
- The chef recommended searing the duck breast skin-side down to crisp the fat before finishing it in the oven.

## Examples

- He opened a bag of cheese and onion crisps.
- The children shared a large bag of potato crisps while watching the football match on Saturday afternoon.
- Artisanal manufacturers often leave the skins on their crisps to provide a more rustic texture and a deeper, earthier flavour profile than mass-produced alternatives.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.