crack

play

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 The statue cracked when she dropped it.
3 : fail: such asa : to lose control or effectiveness under pressure —often used with up The stress was so great that she started to crack 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
1a : to break so that fissures appear on the surface crack a mirrorb : 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 eighth
4a (1) : to open (something, such as a bottle) for drinking (2) : to open (a book) for studyingb : to puzzle out and expose, solve, or reveal the mystery of crack a codec : to break into crack a safed : to open slightly crack the throttlee : to break through (something, such as a barrier) so as to gain acceptance or recognition … on track to crack Hollywood after landing a big screen role. — Ed Gleave and Peter Dykef : to show or begin showing (a smile) especially reluctantly or uncharacteristically
5a : to impair seriously or irreparably : wreck crack an opponent's courageb : to destroy the tone of (a voice)c : disorder, craze Worry had cracked his otherwise cheerful disposition.d : to interrupt sharply or abruptly The criticism cracked our complacency.
6 : to cause to make a sharp noise cracks his knuckles
7a (1) : to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking (2) : to produce by cracking cracked gasolineb : 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) The team needs a coach who isn't afraid to crack the whip.

crack wise

: to make a wisecrack The comedian often cracked wise about prominent politicians.

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See crack defined for kids

Examples of crack in a Sentence

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 and Etymology of crack

Middle English crakken, from Old English cracian; akin to Old High German chrahhōn to resound

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

crack

noun

Definition of crack

1a : a loud roll or peal a crack of thunderb : a sudden sharp noise the crack of rifle fire
2 : a sharp witty remark : quip
3a : a narrow break : fissure a crack in the iceb : a narrow opening Leave the door open a crack. cracks between floorboards —used figuratively in phrases like fall through the cracks to describe one that has been improperly or inadvertently ignored or left out a player who fell through the cracks in the college draft Children slipping through the cracks of available youth services.
4a : a weakness or flaw caused by decay, age, or deficiency : unsoundnessb : a broken tone of the voicec : crackpot
5 : moment, instant the crack of dawn
6 : housebreaking, burglary
7 : a sharp resounding blow gave him a crack on the head
8 : an attempt or opportunity to do something her first crack at writing a novel got first crack at the job opening
9 or crack cocaine : a potent form of cocaine that is obtained by treating the hydrochloride of cocaine with sodium bicarbonate to create small chips used illicitly for smoking

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Examples of crack in a Sentence

The crack runs all the way from the top of the wall to the bottom.
an old patio with grass growing up through the cracks
The vase has a few fine cracks, but it is still usable.
I could see them through the crack in the doorway.
Light came through the cracks in the walls of the barn.

Origin and Etymology of crack

see ¹crack

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

crack

adjective

Definition of crack

: of superior excellence or ability a crack marksman

See crack defined for English-language learners

Examples of crack in a Sentence

The company has a crack sales force.
known as one of the college's crack tennis players

Origin and Etymology of crack

see ¹crack

NEW!

First Known Use: 1793

See Words from the same year

CRACK Defined for English Language Learners

crack

play

verb

Definition of crack for English Language Learners

: to break (something) so that there are lines in its surface but it is usually not separated into pieces
: to hit or press (something) so hard that it breaks apart or opens suddenly
: to hit (someone or something) hard and usually suddenly

crack

noun

Definition of crack for English Language Learners

: a thin line in the surface of something that is broken but not separated into pieces
: a very narrow space or opening between two things or two parts of something
: a sudden loud, sharp sound

crack

adjective

Definition of crack for English Language Learners

: very good : of excellent quality or ability

CRACK Defined for Kids

crack

play

verb \ˈkrak\

Definition of crack for Students

cracked

;

cracking

1 : to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound crack an egg
2 : to break often without completely separating into parts The ice cracked in several places.
3 : to make or cause to make a sound as if breaking crack a whip
4 : to open a small amount crack a window
5 : to tell (a joke) especially in a clever way
6 : to lose self-control He cracked under the strain.
7 : to change in tone quality My voice cracked from emotion.
8 : to strike or receive a sharp blow … I bounced sideways and cracked my head on the half-open window … — Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
9 : solve I cracked the code.

crack up

1 : to have a reputation as a result of praise The show wasn't as good as it was cracked up to be.
2 : to damage or destroy (a vehicle) by crashing
3 : to laugh or cause to laugh Her costume cracked me up.

crack

play

noun

Definition of crack for Students

1 : a narrow break or opening a crack in the glass
2 : a sudden sharp noise a crack of thunder
3 : a sharp clever remark
4 : a broken tone of the voice
5 : the beginning moment I awoke at the crack of dawn.
6 : a sharp blow
7 : ²attempt It was my first crack at writing.

crack

play

adjective

Definition of crack for Students

: of high quality or ability crack troops

Medical Dictionary

crack

play

noun , often attributive \ˈkrak\

Medical Definition of crack

: a potent form of cocaine that is obtained by treating the hydrochloride of cocaine with sodium bicarbonate to create small chips used illicitly usually for smoking