- crack
- I UK [kræk] / US
verb
Word forms "crack":
present tense I/you/we/they crack he/she/it cracks present participle cracking past tense cracked past participle cracked
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1)a) [transitive] to damage something so that a line or long narrow hole appears on its surface, but it does not break into piecesI dropped a plate and cracked it.
She cracked several ribs and broke her arm skiing.
b) [intransitive] if something cracks, a line or long narrow hole appears on its surface, but it does not break into piecesThe ice was starting to crack at the edges.
The egg cracked open and a little chick struggled out.
2) [transitive] to deliberately break something open in order to get what is insideThey used a hammer to crack open the coconuts.
3)a) [intransitive] to make a short sudden loud noise like a small explosionThunder cracked overhead.
b) [transitive] to make a whip make a short sudden loud noise4)a) [transitive] to accidentally hit a part of your body against something with a lot of forceDad fell and cracked his head against the door.
b) [transitive] to hit someone on the head with a lot of forceShe cracked him over the head with a saucepan.
5) [transitive] to solve a complicated problem, or to find the answer to a mysteryDetectives believe they are near to cracking the case.
crack it (= succeed in solving a particular problem):It was a code that seemed impossible to crack.
I've been trying all morning to get this to work, and I've finally cracked it.
6) [intransitive] to lose control of yourself and say or do things that you would not normally say or do, for example, because you are tired or you have been threatenedcrack under the pressure/strain:Heston never cracked, even when they tortured him.
She won the game because her opponent cracked under the pressure.
7) [intransitive] if your voice cracks, it goes higher and lower, and you cannot control it, especially because of a strong emotion or because you are going to cry8) [transitive] to succeed in stopping crime or criminal activityResidents are working together to crack crime on the estate.
•Phrasal verbs:- crack on- crack up
II UK [kræk] / US noun
Word forms "crack":
singular crack plural cracks
**
1) [countable] a line on a surface where something is beginning to break aparthairline crack (= an extremely thin crack):Many old buildings have cracks in their walls.
Hairline cracks appear in the paint when it dries too quickly.
2) [countable] a narrow opening between two things or parts of thingsShe peered out through the crack in the curtains.
3) [countable] a sign that an organization, relationship, or plan is weak or beginning to failcracks start to appear (in something):events which deepened the cracks in the monarchy
After only a year cracks started to appear in their marriage.
4) [countable] a short sudden loud noise like a small explosionthe sharp crack of a single gunshot
5) [countable] informal a hard hit on a part of your bodyHe's had a nasty crack on the head.
6) [countable] informal an attempt to do somethinghave/take a crack at (doing) something:We thought we'd have a crack at running our own business.
7) [countable] informal a rude or insulting joke about someone or somethingSome of the students were making cracks about her appearance.
8) crack or crack cocaine[uncountable] a pure form of the illegal drug cocainecrack addicts
9) another spelling of craic•informal an opportunity to do something or to succeed at somethinga (fair) crack of the whip
— British
slip/fall through the cracks
— to not be dealt with by a system that is designed to help you or to stop you doing somethingToo many neglected children are slipping through the cracks.
informal used for asking someone what is happening or what has happened recentlywhat's the crack?
— British
See:paper over 2)
III UK [kræk] / US adjective [only before noun]very skilful, especially as a result of being trained wella crack shot (= someone who is very accurate in shooting a gun):soldiers in a crack regiment
She's a crack shot with a rifle.
English dictionary. 2014.
