ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crisps

n. plural-only
A2 Elementary UK //kɹˈɪsps// crisps

n. very thin slices of potato that are fried until they are hard and crunchy. They are usually sold in bags and eaten as a cold snack.

n. thin slices of potato, typically deep-fried or baked until brittle and seasoned with salt or other flavourings. Primarily used in British English; the equivalent term in American English is 'chips'.


SIMPLE

I bought a bag of salty crisps for my lunch.

CONTEXTUAL

The children shared a large bag of cheese and onion crisps while they watched the movie.

COMPLEX

While the nutritional value of potato crisps is relatively low, their popularity as a convenient, shelf-stable snack has made them a staple of the global food industry.

Synonyms
Usage

Takes plural verb agreement; often used with the classifier 'packet' or 'bag'.

Pitfall

I want some crispI want some crispsWhen referring to the snack, the word is used in the plural form.

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