wrinkly

Everyday

1. Having many wrinkles or creases: wrinkly skin, a wrinkly shirt. tree →
2. (UK, slang, rude) An old person; it can hurt feelings: "the wrinklies". tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life fingers go wrinkly after a long bath, and clothes go wrinkly in a suitcase. In stories wrinkly hands or faces show that a character is old, often in a warm way (Grandma's wrinkly smile). In science lessons wrinkly fingers in water are a fun puzzle: they may help grip wet things. The slang noun for old people is cheeky and can be unkind.

Examples

• My fingers go wrinkly in the bath. tree →
• Grandad has a wrinkly, smiley face. tree →
• Your shirt is all wrinkly; hang it up. tree →
• Raisins are just wrinkly grapes. tree →
• The elephant has thick, wrinkly skin. tree →
• "Let the wrinklies have the comfy chairs," joked Uncle Pete, and Nan laughed but rolled her eyes. tree →

Note

Forms: wrinkly, wrinklier, wrinkliest. Same idea as "wrinkled" (more formal). The noun "wrinkly" for an old person is UK slang and can be rude; don't use it about someone who might be hurt.