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Definitions for Cracking

[1] (in the distillation of petroleum or the like) the process of breaking down certain hydrocarbons into simpler ones of lower boiling points by means of excess heat, distillation under pressure, etc., in order to give a greater yield of low-boiling products than could be obtained by simple distillation. Compare catalytic cracking.
[2] extremely; unusually: We saw a cracking good match at the stadium.
[3] done with precision; smart: A cracking salute from the honor guard.
[4] get cracking . crack(def 54) .
[5] to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured: The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.
[6] to break with a sudden, sharp sound: The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.
[7] to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap: The whip cracked.
[8] (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, especially into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
[9] to fail; give way: His confidence cracked under the strain.
[10] to succumb or break down, especially under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like: They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.
[11] Chemistry . to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
[12] Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast.
[13] Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip.
[14] to cause to make a sudden sharp sound: The driver cracked the whip.
[15] to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.
[16] to break with a sudden, sharp sound: to crack walnuts.
[17] to strike and thereby make a sharp noise: The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.
[18] to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.
[19] to utter or tell: to crack jokes.
[20] to cause to make a cracking sound: to crack one's knuckles.
[21] to damage, weaken, etc.: The new evidence against him cracked his composure.
[22] to make mentally unsound.
[23] to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
[24] to solve; decipher: to crack a murder case.
[25] Informal . to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
[26] Chemistry . to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
[27] Informal . to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).
[28] a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.
[29] a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
[30] a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
[31] the snap of or as of a whip.
[32] a resounding blow: He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.
[33] Informal . a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.
[34] a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
[35] Informal . opportunity; chance; try: Give him first crack at the new job.
[36] a flaw or defect.
[37] Also called rock. Slang . pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
[38] Masonry . check1(def 41) .
[39] a mental defect or deficiency.
[40] a shot, as with a rifle: At the first crack, the deer fell.
[41] a moment; instant: He was on his feet again in a crack.
[42] Slang . a burglary, especially an instance of housebreaking.
[43] Chiefly British . a person or thing that excels in some respect.
[44] Slang : Vulgar . the vulva.
[45] Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.
[46] British Dialect . boasting; braggadocio.
[47] Archaic . a burglar.
[48] first-rate; excellent: a crack shot.
[49] with a cracking sound.
[50] crack down , to take severe or stern measures, especially in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations: The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.
[51] crack off , to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.
[52] crack on , Nautical . (of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled. (of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.
[53] crack up , Informal . to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown. to crash, as in an automobile or airplane: He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up. to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle. to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly: That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.
[54] (prenominal) informal fast; vigorous (esp in the phrase a cracking pace )
[55] get cracking informal to start doing something quickly or do something with increased speed
[56] British informal first-class; excellent a cracking good match
[57] the process in which molecules are cracked, esp the oil-refining process in which heavy oils are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight by heat or catalysis See also catalytic cracker
[58] to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts the vase was cracked but unbroken
[59] to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap to crack a nut
[60] to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound to crack a whip
[61] to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
[62] informal to fail or cause to fail
[63] to yield or cause to yield to crack under torture
[64] (tr) to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
[65] (tr) to break into or force open to crack a safe
[66] (tr) to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
[67] (tr) informal to tell (a joke, etc)
[68] to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
[69] (tr) to open (esp a bottle) for drinking let's crack another bottle
[70] (intr) Scot and Northern English dialect to chat; gossip
[71] (tr) informal to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it )
[72] (tr) Australian informal to find or catch to crack a wave in surfing
[73] crack a smile informal to break into a smile
[74] crack hardy or crack hearty Australian and NZ informal to disguise one's discomfort, etc; put on a bold front
[75] crack the whip informal to assert one's authority, esp to put people under pressure to work harder
[76] a sudden sharp noise
[77] a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts a crack in the window
[78] a narrow opening or fissure
[79] informal a resounding blow
[80] a physical or mental defect; flaw
[81] a moment or specific instant the crack of day
[82] a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy's during puberty
[83] (often foll by at) informal an attempt; opportunity to try he had a crack at the problem
[84] slang a gibe; wisecrack; joke
[85] slang a person that excels
[86] Scot and Northern English dialect a talk; chat
[87] slang a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
[88] Also: craic informal , mainly Irish fun; informal entertainment the crack was great in here last night
[89] obsolete , slang a burglar or burglary
[90] crack of dawn the very instant that the sun rises very early in the morning
[91] a fair crack of the whip informal a fair chance or opportunity
[92] crack of doom doomsday; the end of the world; the Day of Judgment
[93] (prenominal) slang first-class; excellent a crack shot

Words related to Cracking

chop, splinter, crash, injure, burst, damage, pop, hurt, explode, split, fracture, snap, collapse, flip, whack, slap, break, solve, rive, impair

Words nearby Cracking

crackers, cracket, crackhead, crackhouse, crackie, cracking, crackjaw, crackle, crackleware, crackling, crackly

Origin of Cracking

before 1000; Middle English crak(k)en (v.), crak (noun), Old English cracian to resound; akin to German krachen, Dutch kraken (v.), and German Krach, Dutch krak (noun)

Other words from Cracking

crack·a·ble , adjective
crack·less , adjective

Word origin for Cracking

Old English cracian; related to Old High German krahhōn, Dutch kraken, Sanskrit gárjati he roars

Synonyms for Cracking

burst, chop, crash, damage, explode, fracture, hurt, injure, pop, snap, splinter, split, chip, cleave, crackle, detonate, impair, ring, rive, sever, shiver