crack
1crack
verb \ˈkrak\Definition of CRACK
intransitive verb
1
: to make a very sharp explosive sound <the whip cracks through the air>
2
: to break, split, or snap apart
3
: fail: as a : to lose control or effectiveness under pressure —often used with up b : to fail in tone <his voice cracked>
4
: to go or travel at good speed —usually used with on <the steamboat cracked on>
transitive verb
1
a : to break so that fissures appear on the surface <crack a mirror> b : to break with a sudden sharp sound <crack nuts>
2
: to tell especially suddenly or strikingly <crack a joke>
3
: to strike with a sharp noise : rap <then cracks him over the head> <cracked a two-run homer in the fifth — New York Times>
4
a (1) : to open (as a bottle) for drinking (2) : to open (a book) for studying b : to puzzle out and expose, solve, or reveal the mystery of <crack a code> c : to break into <crack a safe> d : to open slightly <crack the throttle> e : to break through (as a barrier) so as to gain acceptance or recognition f : to show or begin showing (a smile) especially reluctantly or uncharacteristically
5
6
: to cause to make a sharp noise <cracks his knuckles>
7
a (1) : to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking (2) : to produce by cracking <cracked gasoline> b : to break up (chemical compounds) into simpler compounds by means of heat
— crack the whip
: to adopt or apply an authoritative, tyrannical, or threatening approach or policy (as in demanding harder work from employees)
— crack wise
: to make a wisecrack
See Examples of CRACK
- The hailstones were big enough to crack some windows.
- He cracked his collarbone in a skiing accident.
- The mirror cracked when she dropped it.
- Workers cracked the large rock into three pieces so it could be moved.
- The bird cracked the seed on a tree branch.
- a tool used for cracking nuts
- He cracked open the eggs.
- Someone cracked him over the head with a beer bottle.
- The baby cracked her chin pretty hard when she fell.
- He fell and cracked his elbow on the ice.
Origin of CRACK
Middle English crakken, from Old English cracian; akin to Old High German chrahhōn to resound
First Known Use: before 12th century
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Rhymes with CRACK
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