to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured

The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.

to break with a sudden, sharp sound

The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.

to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap

The whip cracked.

(of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, esp. into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.

to fail; give way

His confidence cracked under the strain.

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.

Chemistry . to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast.

Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip.

to cause to make a sudden sharp sound

The driver cracked the whip.

to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.

to break with a sudden, sharp sound

to crack walnuts.

to strike and thereby make a sharp noise

The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.

to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.

to utter or tell

to crack jokes.

to cause to make a cracking sound

to crack one's knuckles.

to damage, weaken, etc.

The new evidence against him cracked his composure.

to make mentally unsound.

to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.

to solve; decipher

to crack a murder case.

Informal . to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).

Chemistry . to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.

Informal . to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).

a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.

a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.

a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.

the snap of or as of a whip.

a resounding blow

He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.

Informal . a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.

a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.

Informal . opportunity; chance; try

Give him first crack at the new job.

a flaw or defect.

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.

Masonry . check 1 ( def. 41 ) .

a mental defect or deficiency.

a shot, as with a rifle

At the first crack, the deer fell.

a moment; instant

He was on his feet again in a crack.

Slang . a burglary, esp. an instance of housebreaking.

Chiefly British . a person or thing that excels in some respect.

Slang

Vulgar the vulva.

Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.

British Dialect . boasting; braggadocio.

Archaic . a burglar.

first-rate; excellent

a crack shot.

with a cracking sound. ?

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.

crack off, to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.

crack on, Nautical .

(of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.

(of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.

crack up, Informal .

to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.

to crash, as in an automobile or airplane

He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.

to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.

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.

crack a book

Informal . to open a book in order to study or read

He hardly ever cracked a book.

crack a smile

Informal . to smile.

crack wise

Slang . to wisecrack

We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.

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.

get cracking

Informal .

to begin moving or working; start

Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes!

to work or move more quickly.

adjective

bad , inferior , poor

verb

fix , mend , be calm , compose , misunderstand

adjective

able , ace , adept , best , capital , choice , crackerjack * , deluxe , elite , excellent , expert , first-class , handpicked , pro * , proficient , skilled , skillful , superior , talented

noun

breach , chink , chip , cleft , cranny , crevasse , cut , discontinuity , division , fissure , fracture , gap , hole , interstice , interval , rent , rift , rima , rimation , rime , split , bang , bash , belt , blast , blow , boom , buffet , burst , clap , clip , clout , crash , cuff , explosion , go , noise , pop , report , shot , slam , slap , smack , smash , snap , splintering , splitting , stab , stroke , thump , thwack , wallop , whack , wham , fling , opportunity , try , whirl , dig , funny remark , gag , insult , jest , jibe , quip , remark , return , smart remark , wisecrack , witticism , bark , rat-a-tat-tat , break , cleavage , crevice , hit , lick , pound , slug , sock , swat , welt , whop

verb

burst , chip , chop , cleave , crackle , crash , damage , detonate , explode , fracture , hurt , impair , injure , pop , ring , rive , sever , shiver , snap , splinter , split , become deranged , become insane , blow one’s mind , blow up , break down , bug out , collapse , flip * , give way , go bonkers , go crazy , go to pieces * , lose it , succumb , yield , bash , buffet , clip , clout , cuff , slap , thump , thunder , wallop , whack , break , cryptanalyze , decipher , decode , decrypt , fathom , figure out , get answer , solve , work out , fissure , rupture , bang , bark , clap , puzzle out , cave in , drop , give out

phrasal verb

smash , collapse , crack , snap , break , cave in , drop , give out , succumb