crumple

From Middle English crumplen, cromplen, frequentative of Middle English crumpen (“to curl up, crump”), from Old English crump (“bent, crooked”). Equivalent to crump +‎ -le.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹʌmpəl/

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• Rhymes: -ʌmpəl

crumple (plural crumples)

1. A crease, wrinkle, or irregular fold.

crumple (third-person singular simple present crumples, present participle crumpling, simple past and past participle crumpled)

1. (transitive) To rumple; to press into wrinkles by crushing together.
2. (transitive) To cause to collapse.
3. (intransitive) To become wrinkled.
4. (intransitive, figurative) To collapse.
   • 2017 June 3, Daniel Taylor, “Real Madrid win Champions League as Cristiano Ronaldo double defeats Juv”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     Yes, Juve were unfortunate, in the extreme, with the deflected goal from Casemiro that gave Madrid a 2-1 lead just after the hour. From that point onwards, however, it was staggering to see a team renowned for defensive structure crumple this way.

• crumple up

• crumple zone

• crumpet

• Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “crumple”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• clumper