n.
- a narrow opening between two parts of something which has split or been broken.
- a sudden sharp or explosive noise.
▸a sharp blow.
- informal a joke or jibe.
-
(also craic)
chiefly Irish enjoyable entertainment; a good time.
▸Scottish & N. English a conversation.
- informal an attempt to do something.
-
(also crack cocaine)
a potent hard crystalline form of cocaine broken into small pieces.
v.
- break or cause to break with little or no separation of the parts.
- give way under pressure or strain.
▸
(crack up)
informal suffer an emotional breakdown under pressure.
▸
(crack up)
informal burst into laughter.
- make or cause to make a sudden sharp or explosive sound.
▸hit hard.
- (of a person's voice) suddenly change in pitch, especially through strain.
-
(crack down on)
informal take severe measures against.
- informal solve, interpret, or decipher.
▸break into (a safe).
-
(crack on)
Brit. informal proceed or progress quickly.
- tell (a joke).
- decompose (hydrocarbons) by heat and pressure to produce lighter hydrocarbons.
adj.
very good or skilful:
a crack shot.
Phrase
Derivative
Etymology
OE cracian ‘make an explosive noise’; of Gmc origin.