crimp / krimp/ • v. [tr.] compress (something) into small folds or ridges: she crimped the edge of the pie. ∎  squeeze (metal) so as to bend or corrugate it. ∎  connect (a wire or cable) in this way. ∎  make waves in (someone's hair) with a curling iron. ∎ inf. have a limiting or adverse effect on (something): farmers complain that the drought could crimp their income potential.• n. a curl, wave, or folded or compressed edge. ∎  a small connecting piece for crimping wires or lines together. ∎ inf. a restriction or limitation.PHRASES: put a crimp in inf. have an adverse effect on.DERIVATIVES: crimp·er n.crimp·y adj.

crimp crumple, wrinkle. Sparsely evidenced before XVII; prob. — (M)LG., (M)Du. krimpen shrink, wrinkle, shrivel = OHG. krimphan (MHG. krimpfen), rel. distantly to OE. (ġe)crympan curl, with which, though it would now be repr. by crimp, there appears to be no continuity. Cf. CRAMP 1.