crumple
/ˈkrʌmpl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrʌmpl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrəm-pəl/ (ame, mw)
crumple — verb
- crumplepresent simple I / you / we / they
- crumpleshe / she / it
- crumpledpast simple
- crumpling-ing form
1. to press or squeeze soft materials like paper, cloth, or fabric so that their fl
to press or squeeze soft materials like paper, cloth, or fabric so that their flat surfaces become uneven and covered with many small irregular folds that do not disappear on their own.
Mei-Lin crumpled the letter in frustration and threw it into the kitchen bin.
crumple + paper + in frustration (emotional trigger)
The silk blouse crumpled badly after being packed in the suitcase for three days.
intransitive: material crumples on its own
Wei crumpled the wrapping paper into a ball and aimed for the recycling box.
文法句型
crumple + object (paper, cloth, fabric)
crumple + up + object
用法筆記
Often used with the particle 'up' when the action is deliberate and complete (e.g. 'crumple up the old newspaper'). The past participle 'crumpled' is also common as an adjective before nouns ('a crumpled shirt').
常見錯誤
2. when metal, a vehicle, or another hard object crumples, it is squeezed with such
when metal, a vehicle, or another hard object crumples, it is squeezed with such force that its surface bends unevenly and the original shape is lost, typically during an accident or collision.
The taxi's front crumpled like paper when it hit the concrete wall on the highway.
In the pile-up, the bicycle frame crumpled under the delivery truck's weight.
crumple + under (the weight of something)
The steel pipe crumpled when the shipping container fell on it at the dock.
文法句型
metal/vehicle crumples + on/under/against + something
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used of accidents — car crashes, industrial mishaps, or heavy objects falling. Unlike sense 1, it rarely takes 'up' as a particle.
常見錯誤
3. when a person's face crumples, the features tighten and become covered with deep
when a person's face crumples, the features tighten and become covered with deep lines, usually because the person is about to cry or is overwhelmed by sadness, disappointment, or grief.
When the judge read the verdict, the man's face crumpled and tears filled his eyes.
Fatima's face crumpled the moment she heard her grandmother's voice on the phone from Tehran.
face crumples + upon hearing emotional news
The little girl's face crumpled when she saw that her favourite doll was broken.
文法句型
someone's face crumples
用法筆記
Only used with the noun 'face' as the subject. Cannot be used for other body parts ('*his mouth crumpled'). Describes an involuntary reaction, not a deliberate expression.
常見錯誤
4. when a person crumples, their legs suddenly lose strength and they drop heavily
when a person crumples, their legs suddenly lose strength and they drop heavily to the floor or ground, often because of injury, shock, exhaustion, or a medical condition.
Amara crumpled to the ground just metres before the finish line and the crowd gasped.
crumple + to the ground (common pattern)
When Dmitri received the news of his brother's accident, he crumpled onto the nearest chair.
The exhausted hiker crumpled onto the grass and closed her eyes for a long moment.
文法句型
person crumples + to/onto/on + surface
用法筆記
The verb is typically followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the landing surface ('to the floor', 'onto the chair', 'on the grass'). The fall is always uncontrolled — never used for intentional sitting or lying down.
常見錯誤
5. when a building, wall, or other structure crumples, it breaks apart and falls do
when a building, wall, or other structure crumples, it breaks apart and falls down, usually because it can no longer support its own weight or because of an external force such as an explosion or an earthquake.
The old warehouse crumpled under heavy snow that had fallen for three days.
crumple + under (the weight of something)
The gas leak blast crumpled the brick wall and covered the street in dust.
transitive: force crumples structure
During the earthquake, the concrete bridge crumpled and fell into the river below.
文法句型
building/structure crumples
explosion/force crumples + building/structure
用法筆記
More formal and less common than 'collapse' for buildings. Often carries a vivid, almost literary sense of the structure folding in on itself rather than simply falling. The transitive use ('the blast crumpled the wall') is particularly rare and mostly found in news reporting.
6. when a system, institution, plan, or relationship crumples, it gradually loses i
when a system, institution, plan, or relationship crumples, it gradually loses its strength or effectiveness until it can no longer function properly, often because of pressure from outside or internal weakness.
The company's distribution network crumpled under rising fuel costs and staff shortages.
crumple + under + pressure (abstract pressure)
After three years of severe drought, the region's farming economy began to crumple.
The peace agreement crumpled when both sides accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.
- strengthen
to become more effective or resilient
文法句型
system/plan/organization crumples + under/because of/from + pressure
用法筆記
Highly metaphorical — borrows the physical image of collapsing material and applies it to abstract entities. Prefer 'collapse' or 'fail' in neutral registers; 'crumple' adds a more vivid, literary flavour.
常見錯誤
crumple — noun
1. an uneven line or folded mark on the surface of paper, fabric, or other thin mat
an uneven line or folded mark on the surface of paper, fabric, or other thin material, caused by pressing or squeezing it out of its flat shape.
The tailor carefully ironed out every crumple in the wedding dress before the fitting.
smooth / iron out + crumple (common verb + noun pair)
Small crumples covered the old map from years of being folded and unfolded.
Sofia smoothed the crumples on the bedsheet with the palm of her hand.
用法筆記
Countable — a single crumple is one crease or wrinkle, but the word is often used in the plural ('there were crumples everywhere'). Less common than 'crease' or 'wrinkle' for everyday speech.