cracked; cracking; cracks
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 as
a
: 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.
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 eighth
4
a(1)
: to open (something, such 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 (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 Dyke
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
1
a
: a loud roll or peal
a crack of thunder
b
: a sudden sharp noise
the crack of rifle fire
2
: a sharp witty remark : quip
3
a
: a narrow break : fissure
a crack in the ice
b
: 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 outa player who fell through the cracks in the college draft
Children slipping through the cracks of available youth services.
4
a
: a weakness or flaw caused by decay, age, or deficiency : unsoundness
b
: a broken tone of the voice
c
: crackpot
6
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
: of superior excellence or ability
a crack marksman
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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