crepe

¹ American  

[kreyp] / kreɪp /

Or crape

noun

1. a lightweight fabric of silk, cotton, or other fiber, with a finely crinkled or ridged surface.

2. a usually black band or piece of this material, worn as a token of mourning.

3. a thin, light, delicate pancake.

4. crepe paper.

5. crepe rubber.

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verb (used with object)

creped, creping

1. to cover, clothe, or drape with crepe.

crêpe ² American  

[kreyp, krep, krep] / kreɪp, krɛp, krɛp /

noun

plural

crêpes

1. crepe.

2. crepe.

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crepe British  

/ kreɪp /

noun

1. 1. a light cotton, silk, or other fabric with a fine ridged or crinkled surface

   2. ( as modifier )

      a crepe dress

2. a black armband originally made of this, worn as a sign of mourning

3. a very thin pancake, often rolled or folded around a filling

4. short for crepe paper crepe rubber

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verb

1. (tr) to cover or drape with crepe

Etymology

Origin of crepe¹

1790–1800; < French < Latin crispus curled, wrinkled

Origin of crêpe²

From French; crepe

Example Sentences

In Oakland, strikers who had “killed” a locomotive covered it in black crepe.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2025

The King - standing on the left - is wearing a grey suit and blue tie with his right hand tucked into his pocket, while the Queen wears a blue wool crepe dress.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

Boxty may even be grilled thin enough to stand in as a potato crepe wrapped around various fillings.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2024

One example was an elegant, long black crepe wrap dress, which, while stylish, seemed incongruous in the display as a whole.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 22, 2024

Howard was helping Miss Rhonda gather up all the crepe paper strips, so I plopped myself down next to Audrey.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Related Words

• cake
• waffle