4 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can use crew to refer to a group of people you disapprove of. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …one of the youngest members of a criminal crew.
cre w cut (crew cuts ) also crewcut N‑COUNT A crew cut is a man's hairstyle in which his hair is cut very short.
crew|man /kruː mæn/ (crewmen ) N‑COUNT A crewman is a member of a crew.
cre w neck (crew necks ) in AM, use crewneck N‑COUNT A crew neck or a crew neck sweater is a sweater with a round neck.
crib /kr I b/ (cribs ) N‑COUNT A crib is a bed for a small baby. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use cot
cri b death (crib deaths ) N‑VAR Crib death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. [AM ] in BRIT, use cot death
cri b sheet (crib sheets ) N‑COUNT A crib sheet is the same as a cheat sheet . [BRIT ] □ He spoke without notes but with a crib sheet of four points.
crick /kr I k/ (cricks ) N‑COUNT If you have a crick in your neck or in your back, you have a pain there caused by muscles becoming stiff.
crick|et ◆◇◇ /kr I k I t/ (crickets )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Cricket is an outdoor game played between two teams. Players try to score points, called runs, by hitting a ball with a wooden bat. □ During the summer term we would play cricket at the village ground. □ …the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
2 N‑COUNT A cricket is a small jumping insect that produces short, loud sounds by rubbing its wings together.
crick|et|er /kr I k I tə r / (cricketers ) N‑COUNT A cricketer is a person who plays cricket.
crick|et|ing /kr I k I t I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Cricketing means relating to or taking part in cricket. □ …Australia's cricketing heroes. □ …his cricketing career.
cri|er /kra I ə r / → see town crier
cri|key /kra I ki/ EXCLAM Some people say crikey in order to express surprise, especially at something unpleasant. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ]
crime ◆◆◇ /kra I m/ (crimes )
1 N‑VAR A crime is an illegal action or activity for which a person can be punished by law. □ He and Lieutenant Cassidy were checking the scene of the crime. □ Mr Steele has committed no crime and poses no danger to the public. □ We need a positive programme of crime prevention.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that doing something is a crime , you think it is very wrong or a serious mistake. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It would be a crime to travel all the way to Australia and not stop in Sydney. COLLOCATIONS crime NOUN 1
noun + crime : gun, knife; hate, sex, war; gang, youth
adjective + crime : heinous, horrific, violent; organized, serious; petty, victimless, white-collar; unsolved; juvenile
verb + crime : combat, fight, prevent, reduce, tackle; investigate, solve; commit, perpetrate
cri me scene (crime scenes ) N‑COUNT A crime scene is a place that is being investigated by the police because a crime has taken place there. □ Photographs of the crime scene began to arrive within twenty minutes.
cri me wave also crimewave N‑SING When more crimes than usual are committed in a particular place, you can refer to this as a crime wave . □ The country is in the grip of a teenage crime wave.
crimi|nal ◆◆◇ /kr I m I n ə l/ (criminals )
1 N‑COUNT A criminal is a person who regularly commits crimes. □ A group of gunmen attacked a prison and set free nine criminals in Moroto.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Criminal means connected with crime. □ He faces various criminal charges.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe an action as criminal , you think it is very wrong or a serious mistake. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He said a full-scale dispute involving strikes would be criminal.
cri mi|nal cou rt (criminal courts ) N‑COUNT A criminal court is a law court that deals with criminal offences.
crimi|nal|ize /kr I m I nəla I z/ (criminalizes , criminalizing , criminalized ) in BRIT, also use criminalise VERB If a government criminalizes an action or person, it officially declares that the action or the person's behaviour is illegal. □ [V n] Every nation should criminalise malicious activities on computer networks.
crimi|nol|ogy /kr I m I nɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals. ● crimi|nolo|gist /kr I m I nɒ lədʒ I st/ (criminologists ) N‑COUNT □ …a criminologist at the University of Montreal.
crimp /kr I mp/ (crimps , crimping , crimped )
1 VERB If you crimp something such as a piece of fabric or pastry, you make small folds in it. □ [V n] Crimp the edges to seal them tightly.
2 VERB To crimp something means to restrict or reduce it. [AM ] □ [V n] The dollar's recent strength is crimping overseas sales and profits.
Crimp|lene /kr I mpliːn/ also crimplene N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Crimplene is an artificial fabric used for making clothes which does not crease easily. [mainly BRIT , TRADEMARK ]
crim|son /kr I mz ə n/ (crimsons ) COLOUR Something that is crimson is deep red in colour. □ …a mass of crimson flowers.