Crack

English Meaning

To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts; as, to crack glass; to crack nuts.

1. To break or snap apart.
2. To make a sharp snapping sound.
3. To break without complete separation of parts; fissure: The mirror cracked.
4. To change sharply in pitch or timbre, as from hoarseness or emotion. Used of the voice.
5. To break down; fail: The defendant's composure finally began to crack.
6. To have a mental or physical breakdown: cracked under the pressure.
7. To move or go rapidly: was cracking along at 70 miles an hour.
8. Chemistry To break into simpler molecules by means of heat.
9. To cause to make a sharp snapping sound.
10. To cause to break without complete separation of parts: cracked the glass.
11. To break with a sharp snapping sound. See Synonyms at break.
12. To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
13. To open to a slight extent: cracked the window to let in some air.
14. To strike with a sudden sharp sound.
15. Informal To break open or into: crack a safe.
16. Informal To open up for use or consumption: crack a book; cracked a beer.
17. Informal To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgement: finally cracked the "men-only” rule at the club.
18. To discover the solution to, especially after considerable effort: crack a code.
19. To cause (the voice) to crack.
20. Informal To tell (a joke), especially on impulse or in an effective manner.
21. To cause to have a mental or physical breakdown.
22. To impair or destroy: Their rude remarks cracked his equanimity.
23. To reduce (petroleum) to simpler compounds by cracking.
24. A sharp snapping sound, such as the report of a firearm.
25. A partial split or break; a fissure.
26. A slight narrow space: The window was open a crack.
27. A sharp resounding blow.
28. A mental or physical impairment; a defect.
29. A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
30. An attempt or try: gave him a crack at the job; took a crack at photography.
31. A witty or sarcastic remark. See Synonyms at joke.
32. A moment; an instant: at the crack of dawn.
33. Irish Fun; amusement.
34. Slang Crack cocaine.
35. Excelling in skill or achievement; first-rate: a crack shot; a crack tennis player.
36. crack down To act more forcefully to regulate, repress, or restrain: The police cracked down on speeding.
37. crack up Informal To praise highly: He was simply not the genius he was cracked up to be.
38. crack up To damage or wreck (a vehicle or vessel): crack up a plane; crack up a boat.
39. crack up To wreck a vehicle in an accident: cracked up on the expressway.
40. crack up Informal To have a mental or physical breakdown: crack up from overwork.
41. crack up Informal To experience or cause to experience a great deal of amusement: really cracked up when I heard that joke.
42. crack the whip To behave in a domineering manner; demand hard work and efficiency from those under one's control.