📖 C — The English dictionary · page 89

criminal — Everyday, meaning 1: (noun) A person who has broken the law and done a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) To do with crime or with the law about crime (a criminal act, criminal law).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (adjective, informal) Very wrong, wasteful or unfair: «It's criminal to waste all that food.».↗ Example: The police caught the criminal.↗ · Stealing is a criminal act.↗ · He has no criminal record.↗ · It's criminal to throw away good food!↗ · The detective tracked down the criminals.↗ · Spraying graffiti on walls is criminal damage.↗ · The hardened criminal casts an impatient look at the bright ray.↗

criminality — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: The state of being guilty of crimes or wrongdoing.↗ Example: In one scale [17] is the merit and in the other criminality, which are placed in equilibrium by the tongue.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · The three first elements, א״מ״ש are typified by a balance, in one scale the merit and in the other the criminality, which are placed in equilibrium by the tongue.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

criminally — Everyday, meaning 1: Criminally means in a way that breaks the law and is a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) Criminally means shockingly or very badly, as if it should be a crime: «criminally underrated».↗ Example: He was found criminally responsible for the damage.↗ · The company acted criminally when it dumped waste in the river.↗ · That film is criminally underrated (informal).↗ · The owner was criminally careless with the fire exits.↗ · In some countries, children under a certain age are not criminally responsible.↗ · It's criminally unfair that we have homework on holiday!↗ (joking)↗

crimp — Everyday, meaning 1: To press something into small folds or ridges, such as pastry edges or hair.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To squeeze two things together to join them, such as a metal end on a wire.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) A small fold, wave or ridge.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (US, informal) «Put a crimp in» something means to spoil or limit it.↗ Example: Crimp the edges of the pie with a fork.↗ · She crimped her hair for the party.↗ · The electrician crimped the plug onto the wire.↗ · The paper had little crimps along the edge.↗ · The rain put a crimp in our beach day.↗ · Gran showed me how to crimp a pasty.↗

crimson — Everyday, meaning 1: A deep, strong red colour with a little blue in it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb, rare) To turn deep red, as when blushing.↗ Example: The sky turned crimson at sunset.↗ · Toad went crimson with rage.↗ · She wore a crimson velvet dress.↗ · The crimson roses filled the garden.↗ · His cheeks went crimson when everyone laughed.↗ · Mix red with a little blue to get crimson.↗ · The roses were crimson diamonds, with emerald leaves.↗ · 'Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah?↗ (Prophets ISA.63.1, JPS 1917)↗ · And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.↗ (Writings 2CH.3.14, JPS 1917)↗ · Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.↗ (Prophets ISA.1.18, JPS 1917)↗

cringe — Everyday, meaning 1: To feel very embarrassed or uncomfortable about something, often pulling a face or wanting to hide.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To move back or bend your body away from something because you are afraid or disgusted.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (slang) Embarrassing or awkward, as in «That video is so cringe.».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (noun) The feeling or act of cringing: «a cringe of embarrassment».↗ Example: I cringe every time I hear my old recorder playing.↗ · The dog cringed when the thunder boomed.↗ · Dad's dancing at the wedding made us all cringe.↗ · (slang) Ugh, that advert is so cringe.↗ · (slang) My old photos are well cringey.↗ · She cringed at the sight of the spider.↗ · It was a cringe-worthy moment when he forgot his lines.↗ · He cringed away from the angry goose.↗ · She was far too pretty to cringe in this way, but Peter thought it his due, and he would answer condescendingly, “It is good.↗

crinkle — Everyday, meaning 1: To crinkle means to form many small folds or lines, or to make something do that.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A crinkle is a small fold or line, like in paper or skin.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To crinkle can mean to make a soft crackling sound, like a crisp packet.↗ Example: She crinkled her nose at the smell.↗ · His eyes crinkled when he laughed.↗ · The sweet wrapper crinkled in my hand.↗ · Old paper crinkles when it gets wet.↗ · We bought crinkle-cut chips.↗ · There were tiny crinkles in the tissue paper.↗ · Grandpa's face crinkled into a smile.↗ · The leaves crinkled under our feet.↗

crinkly — Everyday, meaning 1: Crinkly means having lots of small folds, lines or wrinkles.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Crinkly also means making a light crackling sound when touched or crushed, like crisp paper or foil.↗ Example: Grandpa's eyes went crinkly when he smiled.↗ · The present was wrapped in crinkly paper.↗ · The baby loved the crinkly book.↗ · The old leaves were dry and crinkly.↗ · Crinkly crisps are my favourite.↗ · Her hair is crinkly after she takes out her plaits.↗

crinoline — Everyday, meaning 1: (old use) A stiff frame or petticoat worn under a long skirt to make it stand out wide.↗ Example: She walked into the room in a crinoline.↗ · The lady's crinoline made the doorway look small.↗ · The little girl wanted a new crinoline for the dance.↗

cripes — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal, old-fashioned, euphemism) a cry of surprise, alarm or annoyance; a soft stand-in for «Christ».↗ Example: Cripes, that was close!↗ · Cripes, I've lost my keys again.↗ · «Cripes!» said the boy in the old comic.↗ · Cripes, it's freezing in here.↗ · Oh, cripes, the dog's eaten my sandwich.↗ · Cripes, what a mess!↗

cripple — Everyday, meaning 1: (old use, now seen as hurtful) A person who cannot walk or use a part of the body properly; «disabled» is the kind word today.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To damage something badly so it cannot work properly, or to make someone unable to move.↗ Example: The blind man and the cripple went to the fair together.↗ · A storm can cripple a ship.↗ · The accident crippled his left leg for a year.↗

crippled — Everyday, meaning 1: Unable to walk or use part of the body properly.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Badly damaged, so that it cannot work well.↗ Example: The crippled beggar sat by the gate.↗ · An old tree, a little crippled by age, still stood.↗ · The crippled boat limped back to the harbour.↗

crisis — Everyday, meaning 1: A crisis is a time of great danger, difficulty or trouble when important decisions must be made.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A crisis is a turning point when things will get either much better or much worse.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) People jokingly call a small problem a crisis, like a hair crisis.↗ Example: The town faced a crisis when the river flooded the streets.↗ · During the water crisis, families had to save every drop.↗ · The hospital was in crisis because so many people were ill.↗ · Don't panic — this is not a crisis, it's just a spilled drink!↗ · The story reaches its crisis when the boat starts to sink.↗ · In a crisis, stay calm and call 999 or 911.↗ · Leaders met to solve the crisis.↗ · Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.↗

crisp — Everyday, meaning 1: Crisp means hard and dry in a nice way, so it breaks with a crunch, like fresh toast or an apple.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Crisp weather is cold, dry and fresh.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Crisp paper or clothes are fresh and smooth.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: In the UK and Ireland, crisps are thin fried potato slices in a packet (Americans call them chips).↗ Everyday, meaning 5: A crisp way of speaking is quick and clear.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: Crisp can also describe hair or a beard that is curly and wiry rather than straight and smooth.↗ Example: This apple is crisp and juicy.↗ · Can I have a packet of crisps?↗ · It was a crisp, sunny winter morning.↗ · Our boots crunched in the crisp snow.↗ · The toast was burnt to a crisp.↗ · He gave a crisp new note to the shopkeeper.↗ · Keep the biscuits in a tin so they stay crisp.↗ · Salt and vinegar crisps are my favourite.↗ · His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes.↗

crispy — Everyday, meaning 1: Crispy food is hard and dry on the outside, and breaks with a pleasant crunch when you bite it.↗ Example: I like my toast nice and crispy.↗ · The chips were golden and crispy.↗ · Fry the bacon until it is crispy.↗ · The autumn leaves were crispy under our feet.↗ · The roast potatoes had crispy edges.↗ · Keep the biscuits in a tin so they stay crispy.↗

criterion — Everyday, meaning 1: A criterion is a rule or standard used to judge or decide something.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Success criteria are the steps a teacher says show you did the task well.↗ Example: The main criterion was neat handwriting.↗ · Read the success criteria before you start.↗ · What criteria will the judges use?↗ · Price was one criterion for choosing a bike.↗ · The essay met all the criteria.↗ · Kindness is one criterion for the class award.↗

critic — Everyday, meaning 1: A critic is a person whose job is to give opinions about films, books, music, food, art or plays, often in newspapers, magazines or online.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A critic is someone who says what they think is wrong or bad about a person, idea or plan: «critics of the new rule».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) «Everyone's a critic» is a joke said when someone complains about your work.↗ Example: The film critic gave the movie five stars.↗ · A food critic visited our local restaurant.↗ · Critics of the plan said it would cost too much.↗ · Don't be your own worst critic — your drawing is good!↗ · «Everyone's a critic!» laughed Dad when we didn't like his soup.↗ · The book was loved by readers but not by critics.↗

critical — Everyday, meaning 1: Saying what is bad or wrong about someone or something; finding fault: «She was critical of my drawing».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Very important, because what happens next depends on it: «a critical moment», «critical information».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (health) Very ill or badly hurt and in danger of dying: «in a critical condition».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Thinking carefully and judging fairly using evidence: «critical thinking».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Giving expert judgement about books, films or art: «The film got critical praise».↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (science) At the exact point where something changes: «critical temperature», «critical mass».↗ Example: Don't be so critical of your little brother; he's trying his best.↗ · Good critical thinking means checking where information comes from.↗ · The man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.↗ · The next five minutes of the match are critical.↗ · Water is critical for life on Earth.↗ · The book received critical acclaim.↗ · In science we learned that a dam has a critical water level.↗ · It is critical that you wash your hands before cooking.↗ · However, even in this critical moment, Ludovine did not lose her head.↗ · As such a view is entirely re- pugnant to the modern critical raind, some writers regard this closing Mishnah as a later interpolation.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

critically — Everyday, meaning 1: Critically means very seriously or dangerously, as in critically ill or critically endangered.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Critically means by judging carefully what is good and bad, as in think critically.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Critically means in a way that finds fault, as in she spoke critically of the plan.↗ Example: The kakapo is critically endangered.↗ · The driver was critically injured in the crash.↗ · Read the advert critically: what is it trying to sell?↗ · Scientists think critically about their results.↗ · The film was critically praised.↗ · The coach spoke critically about our defending.↗ · Goll sat twisted round watching the progress of the brawl critically, and Fionn, sitting opposite, watched Goll.↗

criticise — Everyday, meaning 1: To say what you think is bad or wrong about someone or something.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To judge the good and bad points of a book, film or work (to review it).↗ Example: The coach criticised the team for being late.↗ · Don't criticise your friend's drawing; help instead.↗ · The new road was criticised by local people.↗ · Critics criticised the film for being too long.↗ · It's easy to criticise but hard to do better.↗ · We learned to criticise arguments, not the person.↗

criticism — Everyday, meaning 1: Criticism is saying what is wrong or bad about someone or something.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A criticism is one point about what is wrong.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) Judging books, art or music: literary criticism.↗ Example: She took the criticism well.↗ · Constructive criticism helps you learn.↗ · The new rule got a lot of criticism.↗ · My only criticism is that the story was too short.↗ · Teachers give criticism kindly.↗ · The film received good and bad criticism.↗ · Aphrodite alone defied his criticism, for, to his great chagrin, he could find no fault with her perfect form.↗ [50]↗ · Hence Isaac de Lates; criticism in the introduction to the Zohar : (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

critique — Everyday, meaning 1: A careful written judgement of a book, play or work, saying what is good and what is weak.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To judge and comment on something in this careful way.↗ Example: The teacher wrote a critique of my story.↗ · Her critique of the play was fair.↗ · We critiqued each other's poems in class.↗

critter — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal, mainly US) A critter is any creature or animal, especially a small one.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) A critter can be a person, said in a joking or fond way.↗ Example: Some critter dug up the vegetable patch.↗ · The woods are full of little critters.↗ · Squirrels and chipmunks are cute critters.↗ · «You poor critter,» said the farmer to the lamb.↗ · We found a slimy critter under the rock.↗ · The kids collected critters in jars and let them go.↗