crack
18 ENTRIES FOUND:
cracks;
cracked;
cracking
cracks;
cracked;
cracking
Britannica Dictionary definition of CRACK
1
:
to break (something) so that there are lines in its surface but it is usually not separated into pieces
[+ object]
-
The hailstones were big enough to crack some windows.
-
He cracked his collarbone in a skiing accident.
[no object]
-
The mirror/glass cracked when she dropped it.
-
A piece of the statue cracked off. [=broke off]
2
[+ object]
:
to hit or press (something) so hard that it breaks apart or opens suddenly
-
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.
3
[+ object]
:
to hit (someone or something) hard and usually suddenly
-
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/against the ice.
4
[+ object]
a
:
to open (a bottle or can) for drinking
— usually + open
-
He cracked open a beer.
b
:
to open (a book) for studying or reading
— usually + open
-
He hardly cracked a book his whole first semester of college.
-
It's a perfect day to relax and crack open a good book.
5
[+ object]
:
to open (a safe) illegally without having a key, combination, etc.
-
Any good thief could crack this safe.
6
[+ object]
a
:
to find an answer or solution to (something)
-
Scientists have cracked [=solved] an ancient mystery using new technology.
-
The police finally cracked [=broke] the case and arrested the murderer.
b
:
to find the meaning of (a secret code)
-
He was able to crack [=break] the enemy's secret code.
7
[+ object]
:
to open (something, such as a door or window) a small amount
— usually + open
-
She cracked open the door and peeked into the room.
8
:
to cause (something) to make a sudden loud sound
—
see also crack the whip (below)
[+ object]
-
When the sled dogs heard her crack the whip, they broke into a run.
-
His habit of cracking his knuckles bothered her.
[no object]
-
The sled dogs are trained to run when they hear the whip crack.
9
[no object]
of a voice
:
to change sharply in tone or pitch especially because of strong emotion
-
Her voice cracked (with emotion) as she told them what had happened.
10
[+ object]
informal
:
to tell (a joke)
-
The two of them crack jokes all the time. = The two of them are always cracking jokes.
11
[no object]
:
to lose strength or the ability to resist or fight
— often + under
-
After hours of questioning by the police, the suspect finally cracked. [=finally told the police what they wanted to know]
-
He cracked under the pressure/stress of the job.
a tough/hard nut to crack
crack a smile
:
to smile
-
I tried to get him to laugh, but he never even cracked a smile.
crack down
[phrasal verb]
:
to start to be strict about punishing people for doing something that is illegal or not allowed
:
to enforce a law or rule more strictly
— often + on
—
see also crackdown
-
People have been violating this law for years, and now the government is finally starting to crack down.
-
Authorities are cracking down on companies that pollute.
crack into
[phrasal verb]
crack into (something)
informal
:
to enter or get started in (something, such as a profession)
-
Its not easy to crack into [=break into] professional football.
crack the whip
:
to force people to work very hard
-
The team needs a coach who isn't afraid to crack the whip.
crack up
[phrasal verb] informal
1
crack up
or
crack (someone) up
or
crack up (someone)
:
to begin laughing or cause (someone) to begin laughing suddenly and in a way that is difficult to control
-
When we saw the picture, we both cracked up.
-
That joke really cracks me up. [=I think that joke is very funny]
2
:
to become mentally ill
:
to lose control of your thoughts and emotions so that you cannot continue to live in a normal way
-
The stress was getting worse, and she felt herself cracking up. [=going crazy]
3
crack up
or
crack up (something)
also
crack (something) up
US, informal
:
to damage (a vehicle) by crashing
—
see also crack-up
-
I cracked up [=crashed] on a curve in the road.
-
I cracked up [=crashed] the car.
4
◊ Something that is what/all/everything (etc.) it's cracked up to be is as good as people say it is.
-
Is the movie really all it's cracked up to be? = Is it really as good as it's cracked up to be?
◊ This phrase is usually used in negative statements.
-
The new restaurant is not all it's cracked up to be. When we went, the service was awful and our food was cold.
crack wise
US, informal
:
to say something that is funny and smart
:
to make a wisecrack
-
She's always cracking wise.
get cracking
informal
:
to start doing something
-
You ought to get cracking [=get going; get moving] on that assignment. [=you should start working on that assignment right away]
2
crack
/ˈkræk/
noun
plural
cracks
2
crack
/ˈkræk/
noun
plural
cracks
Britannica Dictionary definition of CRACK
1
[count]
:
a thin line in the surface of something that is broken but not separated into pieces
— often + in
—
see also crack in someone's or something's armor at armor
-
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.
-
There were cracks in the ice.
-
There is a crack in the mirror/windshield/glass.
-
Grass is growing up through the cracks in the old patio.
2
[count]
:
a very narrow space or opening between two things or two parts of something
-
I could see them through the crack in the doorway.
-
Light came through the cracks in the walls of the barn.
-
Could you please open the window a crack? [=open it slightly] It's getting hot in here.
3
[count]
:
a sudden loud, sharp sound
— usually singular
-
We heard a loud crack as the ice broke.
-
The horse was frightened by the crack of the whip.
-
a crack of thunder
4
[count]
:
a brief change in the sound of a person's voice especially because of strong emotion
— usually singular
-
There was a crack in her voice as she told us her story.
5
[count]
:
a weakness or problem
— often + in
-
Your theory/argument has a few cracks.
-
The cracks in their relationship were becoming evident.
6
[count]
informal
:
a joke or rude remark
— often + about
-
They're always making cracks [=wisecracks] about their teacher.
-
I didn't appreciate your crack about my weight.
7
[count]
:
a hard and sudden hit
— usually singular
-
Someone gave him a crack on the head with a beer bottle.
8
[count]
informal
:
an effort or attempt to do something
— usually + at
-
She succeeded in her first crack at writing a novel.
-
If he's lucky, he'll get to take a crack at (a career in) professional baseball.
-
Let me have a crack at it.
9
[noncount]
:
an illegal drug that is a form of cocaine
-
He is addicted to crack.
-
They were smoking crack.
— called also
crack cocaine
a fair crack of the whip
British, informal
◊ If you are given a fair crack of the whip, you are given the same chance as other people to do something.
-
They might have succeeded if they'd been given a fair crack of the whip.
at the crack of dawn
:
very early in the morning
:
at dawn
-
We got up at the crack of dawn to go fishing.
fall through/between the cracks
also slip through/between the cracks
:
to fail to be noticed or included with others
-
Parents are concerned that children who have trouble in school will fall through the cracks in the school system. [=will not be given the help they need; will graduate without anyone noticing that they are unable to do the work]
-
The program is meant to help workers who may have slipped through the cracks [=who may have not been included in other programs] because of their age.
3
crack
/ˈkræk/
adjective
3
crack
/ˈkræk/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of CRACK
always used before a noun
:
very good
:
of excellent quality or ability
-
crack troops
-
The company has a crack sales force.
-
I hear she's become a crack shot. [=a person who is very good at shooting a gun]
