wrinkle
wrinkle — noun
1. a narrow crease that naturally appears in the skin over time, especially as a pe
a narrow crease that naturally appears in the skin over time, especially as a person gets older
The fine wrinkles around Amani's eyes deepened every time she laughed.
collocation: wrinkles deepen / appear
Layla started using a night cream to reduce the wrinkles on her forehead.
collocation: reduce wrinkles
By age sixty, Kenji's face had deep wrinkles from years under the tropical sun.
The makeup artist used a special primer to hide the wrinkles around the model's mouth.
- fine line
cosmetics-industry term, less negative connotation
- crow's feet
specifically the wrinkles at the outer eye corners
- crease
a sharper, pressed line, not necessarily age-related
文法句型
wrinkle + in/on + body part
wrinkle + appear/form + on face
用法筆記
In cosmetics marketing, 'fine lines' is preferred over 'wrinkles' because it sounds gentler. 'Crow's feet' refers specifically to the small wrinkles that appear at the outer corners of the eyes.
常見錯誤
2. an unwanted ridge or crease on fabric, paper, or any smooth material
an unwanted ridge or crease on fabric, paper, or any smooth material
Christopher ironed his shirt to remove the wrinkles before the job interview.
collocation: remove wrinkles
The poster had a big wrinkle in the middle from being rolled up too tightly.
Isabela smoothed out the wrinkles in the tablecloth before setting the plates for dinner.
Yan hung his jacket in the bathroom, hoping the steam would remove the wrinkles.
文法句型
wrinkle + in + cloth/paper/surface
wrinkle + on + surface
用法筆記
A 'wrinkle' in fabric is typically unwanted. A deliberate fold — such as in a pleated skirt — is called a 'pleat' or 'fold', not a wrinkle.
常見錯誤
3. a small unexpected difficulty in a plan or process
a small unexpected difficulty in a plan or process
The hotel booking was perfect except for one small wrinkle — a broken air conditioner.
idiom: a wrinkle in the plan
The team ironed out all the wrinkles in the software before the launch.
collocation: iron out wrinkles
There is a wrinkle in the contract that the lawyers need to review.
Every new project has a few wrinkles that the team must work through.
文法句型
a wrinkle + in + plan/contract/schedule
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the fixed phrases 'a wrinkle' or 'iron out the wrinkles'. It is common in business and project-planning contexts but less frequent in casual conversation. The problem described must be minor — serious issues are not called wrinkles.
常見錯誤
wrinkle — verb
1. to form narrow creases on a surface, or to make such creases appear — for instan
to form narrow creases on a surface, or to make such creases appear — for instance, when cloth gets crushed, skin ages, or paper gets bent
This linen shirt wrinkles easily, so I hang it up right after washing.
collocation: wrinkle easily
Years of smiling had wrinkled the skin around Élise's eyes.
The pages of the old book had wrinkled from water damage over the years.
The paint on the old wooden bench had wrinkled after years of rain and sun.
文法句型
[cloth/skin/paper] + wrinkle (intransitive)
[subject] + wrinkle + [object] (transitive)
用法筆記
This sense can be used either transitively (someone wrinkles something) or intransitively (something wrinkles by itself). Common subjects for the intransitive use include: fabric, skin, paper, paint, and leather.
常見錯誤
2. to pull the skin of your forehead upward into folds, usually because you are sur
to pull the skin of your forehead upward into folds, usually because you are surprised, confused, or thinking hard about something
Theo wrinkled his forehead when he saw the impossible math problem on the board.
pattern: wrinkle + forehead / brow (surprise/confusion)
Doctor Hendricks wrinkled his brow as he studied the patient's X-ray results.
Imran wrinkled his forehead, trying hard to remember where he had left his car keys.
Eli wrinkled his forehead when the waiter brought the wrong dish.
- furrow one's brow
identical meaning, equally common
- knit one's brows
slightly more literary, suggests concentration
- frown
similar but usually expresses displeasure rather than confusion
文法句型
wrinkle + one's forehead/brow
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with 'forehead' or 'brow' as the direct object. 'Furrow one's brow' has the same meaning and is equally common. Do not use this sense with other body parts — 'wrinkle one's eyes' is not idiomatic in English.
常見錯誤
3. to contract the skin around your nose into small creases, typically because you
to contract the skin around your nose into small creases, typically because you find a smell, taste, or idea unpleasant or unacceptable
Amani wrinkled her nose at the smell of the old cheese sitting in the fridge.
pattern: wrinkle one's nose at [something] showing dislike
The children wrinkled their noses when their mother served broccoli for dinner.
Mauricio wrinkled his nose in disgust at the garbage piled up on the street.
The wine critic wrinkled her nose after tasting the cheap red wine.
- turn up one's nose
similar meaning but more dramatic and deliberate; an idiom
- make a face
a broader expression of dislike involving the whole face, not just the nose
文法句型
wrinkle + one's nose
wrinkle + one's nose + at + [something]
用法筆記
This sense always takes 'nose' as the object. The preposition 'at' introduces the disliked thing ('wrinkle one's nose at something'), while 'in disgust' can describe the emotion. The gesture is often a quick, instinctive reaction to an unpleasant smell or taste.