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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | crisp 'curly' (10-20 centuries), from Latin crispus |
1DF something that is crisp is hard, and makes a pleasant sound when you break it or crush it : 
She kicked at the crisp leaves at her feet.He stepped carefully through the crisp, deep snow.
hard
She kicked at the crisp leaves at her feet.He stepped carefully through the crisp, deep snow.2CS food that is crisp is pleasantly hard or firm when you bite it [= crispy; ≠ soggy]: a crisp green salad a crisp, juicy apple Cook the pastry until it is crisp and golden. The meat should be nice and crisp on the outside.
food
a crisp green salada crisp, juicy appleCook the pastry until it is crisp and golden.The meat should be nice and crisp on the outside.3TIM paper or cloth that is crisp is fresh, clean, and new [= fresh]: a crisp, new five dollar bill crisp cotton sheets.
paper/cloth
a crisp, new five dollar billcrisp cotton sheets.4DN weather that is crisp is cold and dry [≠ humid]: The air was fresh and crisp. a crisp, clear autumn day The weather remained crisp and dry.
weather
The air was fresh and crisp.a crisp, clear autumn dayThe weather remained crisp and dry.5 if someone behaves or speaks in a crisp way, they are confident, polite, and firm, but not very friendly : Her tone was crisp and businesslike.
people
Her tone was crisp and businesslike.6 a picture or sound that is crisp is clear [= sharp]: an old recording that still sounds remarkably crisp
picture/sound
an old recording that still sounds remarkably crisp —crisply adverb: 'Take a seat,' she said crisply.
'Take a seat,' she said crisply. —crispness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: weather WORD FOCUS: weather good weather: sunny/fine used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of sunshine
nice/lovely/glorious very sunny and good
bright if the weather is bright, the sun shines strongly
there isn't a cloud in the sky the sky is completely clear
dry if the weather is dry, it does not rain
fair sunny and not windy or rainy - used especially in weather forecasts
rain: wet/rainy/damp used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of rain
unsettled if the weather is unsettled, it keeps changing and it often rains
drizzle light rain which consists of very small drops of water
shower a short period of rain
downpour a short period when it suddenly rains very heavily
it's pouring down British English/it's pouring rain American English it is raining very hard
it's drizzling it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain
snow: snowy used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of snow
sleet a mixture of snow and rain
slush a mixture of partly melted snow and ice
hail/hailstones frozen drops of rain, that fall as drops of ice
blizzard a storm with a lot of snow and strong wind
frost white powder that covers the ground when it is cold
wind: windy used to describe a day or weather when there is a lot of wind
blustery very windy
breeze a gentle pleasant wind
hurricane (in the Atlantic Ocean) /typhoon (in the Pacific Ocean) a violent storm with extremely strong winds
cloudy: cloudy used to describe weather or a day when there are a lot of clouds in the sky
grey/dull cloudy and not bright
overcast if the sky is overcast, it is very cloudy and dark, and it is likely to rain
hazy not clear, especially because there is a slight mist caused by heat or smoke
hot: boiling/scorching/sizzling/blazing/burning/baking/broiling (hot) extremely hot
sweltering very hot and humid
warm a little hot, in a way that is pleasant
balmy pleasantly warm, with a gentle wind blowing
heatwave a period of unusually hot weather
cold: freezing (cold) extremely cold
arctic extremely cold, usually with a lot of ice and snow
wintry cold and snowy or rainy, like the weather in winter
crisp if the air is crisp, it feels cold but pleasantly fresh and clear
chilly a little too cold, in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
cool a little cold, in a way that is pleasant
cold snap/cold spell a period of unusually cold weather
➔ See also weather
