- crack
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—crackable, adj. —crackless, adj./krak/, v.i.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, esp. 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, esp. under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like: They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.7. Chem. 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.v.t.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. Chem. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.24. crack a book, Informal. to open a book in order to study or read: He hardly ever cracked a book.25. crack a smile, Informal. to smile.26. crack down, to take severe or stern measures, esp. in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations: The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.27. crack off, to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.28. crack on, Naut.a. (of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.b. (of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.29. crack up, Informal.a. to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.b. to crash, as in an automobile or airplane: He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.c. to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.d. to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly: That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.30. crack wise, Slang. to wisecrack: We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.31. get cracking, Informal.a. to begin moving or working; start: Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes!b. to work or move more quickly.n.32. a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.33. a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.34. a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.35. the snap of or as of a whip.36. a resounding blow: He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.37. Informal. a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.38. a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.39. Informal. opportunity; chance; try: Give him first crack at the new job.40. a flaw or defect.41. 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.42. Masonry. check1 (def. 46).43. a mental defect or deficiency.44. a shot, as with a rifle: At the first crack, the deer fell.45. a moment; instant: He was on his feet again in a crack.46. Slang. a burglary, esp. an instance of housebreaking.47. Chiefly Brit. a person or thing that excels in some respect.48. Slang (vulgar). the vulva.49. Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.50. Brit. Dial. boasting; braggadocio.51. Archaic. a burglar.52. 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.adj.53. first-rate; excellent: a crack shot.adv.54. with a cracking sound.[bef. 1000; ME crak(k)en (v.), crak (n.), OE cracian to resound; akin to G krachen, D kraken (v.), and G Krach, D krak (n.)]
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Universalium. 2010.