wrinkle

We all get wrinkles as we age: those little lines that appear on our skin from smiling, frowning, or simply getting older. But "wrinkle" is not only about faces. It can also describe a crease or fold in something, like a tablecloth or a shirt. It can even mean a small problem in a plan. Think of it as something that breaks a smooth surface or interrupts a smooth situation. If your plan has a "wrinkle," there is an unexpected problem that you need to deal with.

Sometimes wrinkles are even wanted, like folds in fabric that give something texture or character. Still, we often try to "iron out the wrinkles," both in our clothes and in our plans.

The word "wrinkle" is surprisingly versatile, referring to the visible signs of time on skin, physical folds in fabric or other materials, or small complications that interrupt the smooth flow of a situation. Most commonly, we connect wrinkles with aging: those fine lines that appear around the eyes and mouth as skin becomes less smooth and elastic. "She tried to minimize her wrinkles with a daily moisturizer." While people often try to reduce them with creams, these lines are a natural part of life and are often seen as signs of character and experience.

Beyond the human face, "wrinkle" applies to many physical objects. A piece of paper that has been crushed is full of wrinkles, and so is a bedsheet that has not been pulled tight. "He spent several minutes smoothing out the wrinkles in his suit before the interview." The word describes any small line, fold, or uneven mark on a normally smooth surface, such as the wrinkles seen in old leather or heavy curtains.

Figuratively, a wrinkle can mean a minor problem or an unexpected difficulty. "There's a slight wrinkle in our travel plans" means there is a small obstacle to overcome. It suggests that the overall plan is good, but not completely settled yet. This leads to the common idiom "to iron out the wrinkles," which means to fix the last small problems in a project or agreement before it is finished.

Interestingly, "wrinkle" also functions as a verb. To wrinkle means to cause creases to form or to draw the face into lines. You might "wrinkle your nose" at a strange smell or "wrinkle your brow" in deep concentration. Whether you are talking about the passage of time on a face, a fold in a piece of clothing, or a snag in a plan, "wrinkle" captures the idea of something that disturbs a smooth surface or a smooth process.