Definition
Wrinkles (noun, plural): Small lines or folds in a surface, especially on the skin due to age, or creases in fabric or paper caused by folding or drying.
Pronunciation
The word is pronounced as /ˈrɪŋ.kəlz/ in IPA. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: WRINK-les. It rhymes with “crinkles.”
Morphology
“Wrinkles” is the regular plural form of the noun “wrinkle,” formed by adding “-s” to the base word. The root “wrinkle” derives from the Old English verb “wrincan,” meaning “to twist or wind,” which evolved to describe twisted or folded appearances in the 15th century.
Grammar Notes
As a countable noun, “wrinkles” takes plural verbs (e.g., “The wrinkles are visible”) and can be modified by articles like “the” or possessives (e.g., “her wrinkles”). It rarely functions as a verb; instead, the base “wrinkle” can be a verb meaning “to form creases.”
Interesting Facts
The term “wrinkles” often evokes aging, but it also appears in science: fingerprints have unique wrinkle patterns for grip in water. Historically, in the 19th century, “wrinkle” slang meant a clever trick, as in “a new wrinkle in fashion.”
Tips for Learning
To remember “wrinkles,” visualize a wrinkled prune or an elderly person’s forehead—link the “wrin” sound to “wringing” out a cloth, which creates folds. Practice by drawing wrinkles on paper while saying the word aloud to associate sight, sound, and action.
Cultural and Contextual Features
In Western culture, wrinkles symbolize wisdom or maturity but are often stigmatized in beauty standards, leading to the popularity of anti-wrinkle creams and Botox. In literature, like Shakespeare’s works, wrinkles represent time’s passage (e.g., “wrinkled age”). In fashion, “wrinkle-free” fabrics are prized for travel convenience.
Examples
- Simple: The shirt has wrinkles.
- Medium: Her face showed fine wrinkles around her eyes from years of smiling.
- Complex: Although she applied moisturizer daily, the deep wrinkles on her hands, etched by decades of gardening, remained a testament to her lifelong passion for nature.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Common Combinations
Synonyms: creases, folds, lines, furrows (for skin or fabric).
Antonyms: smoothness, evenness, flatness.
Common combinations: Facial wrinkles, iron out wrinkles, crow’s feet wrinkles, permanent wrinkles.
Mini-Tasks for Practice
- Make a sentence using “wrinkles” to describe an old book.
- Find a synonym for “wrinkles” in the context of clothing and use it in a sentence.
- Think of an idiom or phrase with “wrinkle” (like “throw a wrinkle in plans”) and explain its meaning.