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[krak] /kræk/

verb (used without object)
1.
to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured:
The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.
2.
to break with a sudden, sharp sound:
The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.
3.
to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap:
The whip cracked.
4.
(of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, especially into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
5.
to fail; give way:
His confidence cracked under the strain.
6.
to succumb or break down, especially under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like:
They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.
7.
Chemistry. to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
8.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast.
9.
Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip.
verb (used with object)
10.
to cause to make a sudden sharp sound:
The driver cracked the whip.
11.
to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.
12.
to break with a sudden, sharp sound:
to crack walnuts.
13.
to strike and thereby make a sharp noise:
The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.
14.
to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.
15.
to utter or tell:
to crack jokes.
16.
to cause to make a cracking sound:
to crack one’s knuckles.
17.
to damage, weaken, etc.:
The new evidence against him cracked his composure.
18.
to make mentally unsound.
19.
to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
20.
to solve; decipher:
to crack a murder case.
21.
Informal. to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
22.
Chemistry. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
23.
Informal. to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).
noun
24.
a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.
25.
a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
26.
a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
27.
the snap of or as of a whip.
28.
a resounding blow:
He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.
29.
Informal. a witty or cutting remark; .
30.
a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
31.
Informal. opportunity; chance; try:
Give him first crack at the new job.
32.
a flaw or defect.
33.
Also called rock. Slang. pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
34.
Masonry. 1 (def 41).
35.
a mental defect or deficiency.
36.
a shot, as with a rifle:
At the first crack, the deer fell.
37.
a moment; instant:
He was on his feet again in a crack.
38.
Slang. a burglary, especially an instance of housebreaking.
39.
Chiefly British. a person or thing that excels in some respect.
40.
Slang: Vulgar. the vulva.
41.
Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.
42.
British Dialect. boasting; braggadocio.
43.
Archaic. a burglar.
adjective
44.
first-rate; excellent:
a crack shot.
adverb
45.
with a cracking sound.
Verb phrases
46.
crack down, to take severe or stern measures, especially in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations:
The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.
47.
crack off, to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.
48.
crack on, Nautical.

49.
crack up, Informal.

Idioms
50.
crack a book, Informal. to open a book in order to study or read:
He hardly ever cracked a book.
51.
crack a smile, Informal. to smile.
52.
crack wise, Slang. to wisecrack:
We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.
53.
fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, missed, or neglected:
In any inspection process some defective materials will fall through the cracks.
Also, slip between the cracks.
54.
get cracking, Informal.

/kræk/
verb
1.
to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts: the vase was cracked but unbroken
2.
to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap: to crack a nut
3.
to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound: to crack a whip
4.
to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
5.
(informal) to fail or cause to fail
6.
to yield or cause to yield: to crack under torture
7.
(transitive) to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
8.
(transitive) to break into or force open: to crack a safe
9.
(transitive) to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
10.
(transitive) (informal) to tell (a joke, etc)
11.
to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
12.
(transitive) to open (esp a bottle) for drinking: let’s crack another bottle
13.
(intransitive) (Scot & Northern English, dialect) to chat; gossip
14.
(transitive) (informal) to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it)
15.
(transitive) (Austral, informal) to find or catch: to crack a wave in surfing
16.
(informal) crack a smile, to break into a smile
17.
(Austral & NZ, informal) crack hardy, crack hearty, to disguise one’s discomfort, etc; put on a bold front
18.
(informal) crack the whip, to assert one’s authority, esp to put people under pressure to work harder
noun
19.
a sudden sharp noise
20.
a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts: a crack in the window
21.
a narrow opening or fissure
22.
(informal) a resounding blow
23.
a physical or mental defect; flaw
24.
a moment or specific instant: the crack of day
25.
a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy’s during puberty
26.
(often foll by at) (informal) an attempt; opportunity to try: he had a crack at the problem
27.
(slang) a gibe; wisecrack; joke
28.
(slang) a person that excels
29.
(Scot & Northern English, dialect) a talk; chat
30.
(slang) a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
31.
(informal, mainly Irish) Also craic. fun; informal entertainment: the crack was great in here last night
32.
(obsolete, slang) a burglar or burglary
33.
crack of dawn

34.
(informal) a fair crack of the whip, a fair chance or opportunity
35.
crack of doom, doomsday; the end of the world; the Day of Judgment
adjective
36.
(prenominal) (slang) first-class; excellent: a crack shot
v.

Old English cracian “make a sharp noise,” from Proto-Germanic *krakojan (cf. Middle Dutch craken, Dutch kraken, German krachen), probably imitative. Related: Cracked; cracking. To crack a smile is from 1840s; to crack the whip in the figurative sense is from 1940s.
n.

“split, opening,” 14c., from crack (v.). Meaning “try, attempt” first attested 1836, probably a hunting metaphor, from slang sense of “fire a gun.” Meaning “rock cocaine” is first attested 1985. The superstition that it is bad luck to step on sidewalk cracks has been traced to c.1890. Adjectival meaning in “top-notch, superior” is slang from 1793 (e.g. a crack shot).

noun

verb

Related Terms

fall between the cracks, give something a shot, have a crack at something, wisecrack

[all senses are ultimately echoic; narcotics sense fr the sound of breaking crystals or the cracking sound the crystals make when smoked]