crackle

1 of 2

verb

crack·​le ˈkra-kəl 

crackled; crackling ˈkra-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises

the fire crackles on the hearth

b

: to show animation : sparkle

the essays crackle with wit

2

: craze sense intransitive 2

transitive verb

: to crush or crack with snapping noises

cracklingly adverb

crackle

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the noise of repeated small cracks or reports

b

: sparkle, effervescence

2

: a network of fine cracks on an otherwise smooth surface

Examples of crackle in a Sentence

Verb

The logs crackled in the fire.

The leaves crackled under our feet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At that point, all of the houses except Hauptman’s and a few nearby homes were on fire, multimillion-dollar properties crackling like twigs in a summer campfire. —Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025

Following the Watts Rebellion of 1965, the LA art scene crackled with political energy, and in 1967, Davis and his brother returned from a transformative road trip and inaugurated Brockman Gallery in the city’s Leinert Park neighborhood. —News Desk, Artforum, 6 Feb. 2025

Noun

But dolphins have complex dialects in the form of crackles, squeaks and whistles. —Leticia Fanucchi, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2025

The wind mode, however, adjusts to the breeze and neutralizes the crackle. —PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of crack entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

crackle

verb

crack·​le

ˈkrak-əl

crackled; crackling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises

crackle noun