crusty
/ˈkrʌs.ti/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Having a hard, dry, or rough outer layer like a crust. It can describe bread, soil, skin, or food cooked until the outside is crisp.
- The bread was crusty on the outside.
- She bought a crusty loaf from the bakery.
- The pie has a crusty top.
- 2.
Bad-tempered, rude, or quick to complain, especially in an older person. It is often used informally.
- He sounded crusty after the long wait.
- Our crusty neighbour still says hello.
- The old teacher had a crusty manner.
Adinary Nuance
Crusty is close to rough, grumpy, and irritable, but it suggests a harder, less pleasant edge. For food, it means a crisp outer layer, not just 'dry' or 'hard'. For a person, it sounds more informal and old-fashioned than simply 'rude' or 'angry'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- giòn vỏ
- Spanish
- con corteza
- Chinese
- 外脆的
- Japanese
- 皮がかたい
- Korean
- 껍질이 바삭한
Etymology
Crusty comes from crust, which entered English from Old French in the Middle Ages. The food meaning is older, and the 'bad-tempered' sense developed later from the idea of a hard, rough surface.
Common phrases
crusty breadcrusty loafcrusty topcrusty old man
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is crusty a positive word for food?
- Yes, often. It usually means the outside is pleasantly crisp.
- Is crusty polite when describing a person?
- It can sound a little rude or old-fashioned. Use it carefully in formal writing.
- What is the difference between crusty and crispy?
- Crusty usually means a hard, crust-like outside. Crispy often means light and pleasantly crunchy.
- Can crusty describe skin or dirt?
- Yes. It can describe something dry, rough, or covered with a hard layer.