English Dictionary

Definition of “cracking”

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cracking (ˈkrækɪŋPronunciation for cracking) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. (prenominal) informal fast; vigorous (esp in the phrase a cracking pace)
  2. See get cracking

adverb adjective

  1. British informal first-class; excellent  ⇒ a cracking good match 

noun

  1. 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

crack (krækPronunciation for crack) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts  ⇒ the vase was cracked but unbroken 
  2. to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap  ⇒ to crack a nut 
  3. to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound  ⇒ to crack a whip 
  4. to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
  5. informal to fail or cause to fail
  6. to yield or cause to yield  ⇒ to crack under torture 
  7. (tr) to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
  8. (tr) to break into or force open  ⇒ to crack a safe 
  9. (tr) to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
  10. (tr) informal to tell (a joke, etc)
  11. to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
  12. (tr) to open (esp a bottle) for drinking  ⇒ let's crack another bottle 
  13. (intr) Scottish Northern England dialect to chat; gossip
  14. (tr) informal to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it)
  15. (tr) Australian informal to find or catch  ⇒ to crack a wave in surfing 
  16. See crack a smile
  17. See crack hardy
  18. See crack the whip

noun

  1. a sudden sharp noise
  2. a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts  ⇒ a crack in the window 
  3. a narrow opening or fissure
  4. informal a resounding blow
  5. a physical or mental defect; flaw
  6. a moment or specific instant  ⇒ the crack of day 
  7. a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy's during puberty
  8. (often foll by at) informal an attempt; opportunity to try  ⇒ he had a crack at the problem 
  9. slang a gibe; wisecrack; joke
  10. slang a person that excels
  11. Scottish Northern England dialect a talk; chat
  12. slang a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
  13. craicinformal mainly Irish fun; informal entertainment  ⇒ the crack was great in here last night 
  14. obsolete slang a burglar or burglary
  15. See crack of dawn
  16. See a fair crack of the whip
  17. See crack of doom

adjective

  1. (prenominal) slang first-class; excellent  ⇒ a crack shot 

See also

crack down , crack on , crack up

Word Origin

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

Usage examples

  • Food had been served to them earlier by an orderly grown accustomed to glacial silences, split only by the odd cracking of a wooden chair.
    Robert Wilson, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
  • Don't ask me about football, he says, cracking his weathered knuckles.
    Maxim (2004)
  • Mr. Musharraf's commitment to cracking down on the Taliban has also been questioned.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • A resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard two loud cracking noises.
    Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2004)
  • Punctuated only by the sound of whips cracking in Charlie's head.
    Victoria Coren, Charlie Skelton, ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING: How we tried to make the greatest porn film ever (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'C'

Related Terms

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