crackling

noun

crack·​ling

plural cracklings

1

ˈkra-k(ə-)liŋ  : a series of small sharp cracking noises

the crackling of frozen snow as we walk

2

\ ˈkra-​klən , -​kliŋ \

a

: the crisp residue left after the rendering of lard from pig fat or the frying or roasting of pig skin

Want to know how to get perfect crisp crackling on roast pork?

—BBC Good Food (online)

… for me fat is a largely a textural pleasure, … and pork crackling is surely the supreme example of this: a blistered top, as dry and crunchy as an autumn leaf, hiding a layer of yielding, creamy fat beneath.

—Felicity Cloake

also : a piece of this residue

We feasted on … fresh hog cracklings from a road-side trailer north of Houston …

—Peter Richmond

b

: food or a piece of food that resembles crackling

duck cracklings

The great Simon Hopkinson, author of Roast Chicken and Other Stories, gave me—appropriately enough—a bag of chicken crackling as a present, and I pressed him for the recipe.

—Nigella Lawson

Examples of crackling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Few regions do Chardy like Margaret River, where proximity to the Indian Ocean provides crackling acidity, and abundant sunshine equals generosity of fruit. —Christina Pickard, Bon Appétit, 5 Mar. 2025

The pair were enjoying an intimate dinner at the luxury oceanfront resort surrounded by rose petals, soft candlelight and a crackling fireplace. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025

See more on: The New Yorker, David Remnick Explore Our Style Coverage The latest in fashion, trends, love and more. Nirvana for Your Feet: These socks, by Maria La Rosa, look like foil balloons, make a crackling sound when slipped on and, for some people, have become a simple luxury. —Alex Vadukul, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

In the evening, instead of a taxi, catch the Paradise Express snowcat to Paradise Camp, located directly on the ski hill, for a three-course gourmet dinner served next to a crackling fire. —Jennifer Malloy, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crackling

• tackling

Kids Definition

crackling

noun

crack·​ling

1

ˈkrak-(ə-)liŋ

: a series of small sharp crackling sounds

2

ˈkrak-lən,

ˈkrak-liŋ

: the crisp remainder left after the fat has been separated from the meat or skin (as of pork)

—usually used in plural