CRISPR

C3R1I1S1P3R1
/ˈkrɪspər/

noun

Segments of bacteria and archaea DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences.

Similar
SRSR
First used 2002Scrabble 10

Meanings

CRISPR1

nounCRISPR (countable and uncountable, plural CRISPRs)

plural CRISPRs · alternative Crispr

  1. countableuncountablebiologySegments of bacteria and archaea DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences.First known use 2002

    Crispr is a guide molecule made of RNA, that allows a specific site of interest on the DNA double helix to be targeted.

    2018 October 14, Sarah Marsh, “Essays reveal Stephen Hawking predicted race of 'superhumans'”, in The Guardian

    Synonyms: SRSR

  2. countableuncountablebiologyThe CRISPR/Cas9 system, which functions to provide immunity to bacteria and archaea by finding a section of DNA and replacing it with an alternative.

    For the first time, doctors in the U.S. have used the powerful gene-editing technique CRISPR to try to treat a patient with a genetic disorder.

    2019 July 29, Rob Stein, “In A 1st, Doctors In U.S. Use CRISPR Tool To Treat Patient With Genetic Disorder”, in npr
  3. countableuncountableAny technique or process or system for editing genomes by laboratory use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
verbCRISPR (third-person singular simple present CRISPRs, present participle CRISPRing, simple past and past participle CRISPRed)

present singular third person CRISPRs · participle present CRISPRing · participle past CRISPRed · past CRISPRed · alternative Crispr

  1. informalTo edit genomes by laboratory use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

    Having CRISPRed the cells we next wanted to identify the types of modification that have been generated.

    2017, Alexandra Franz, Erich Brunner, Konrad Baslter, “Generation of genome-modified Drosophila cell lines using SwAP”, in Fly, volume 11, number 4
    2 more examples

    In this planned trial, doctors will remove cancer patients' T cells, “CRISPR” them, and then reinfuse them in the hope that they will recognize and attack the patients' cancers.

    2017, Robin L. Smith, Max Gomez, Cells Are the New Cure

    Two successful applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in an SCN- and cell-type-specific fashion [5] will all but certainly add to the common refrain of 'just CRISPR it' (grad students and postdocs, insert groan here).

    2017 May, Marc D. Ruben, John B. Hogenesch, “Circadian Rhythms: Move over neurons—astrocytes mediate SCN clock function”, in Current Biology, volume 27, number 9

Crispr2

nounCrispr (countable and uncountable, plural Crisprs)

plural Crisprs

  1. countableuncountableAlternative letter-case form of CRISPR.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSegments of bacteria and archaea DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences.

Similar
SRSR

Origin

Translations

Hebrew קריספר
  • קריספר (krísper)Translations

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with CRISPR

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Cite this entry
APA

CRISPR. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/CRISPR

MLA

“CRISPR.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/CRISPR. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “CRISPR,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/CRISPR.

Source: CRISPR on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.