crack

KRAK/kɹæk/

Pluralcracks

Verbcracks, cracking, cracked

45 meanings of crack

Practice

1
hairline splitnouncountable
A thin, usually jagged opening that appears in something once solid.
A crack appeared in the ceiling after years of settling.
Water seeped through a crack in the concrete foundation.
UsageUse in for where it is: a crack in the wall, a crack in the glass.
Similarcrevice, fissure
2
verbintransitive
To break, or make something break, so that a thin split or line appears in it without its coming fully apart, often from force, heat, pressure or age.
The plaster will crack if the wall keeps shifting.
The leather seats had cracked after years in the heat.
Similarsplit, fracture
Note
The splitting senses grew from the sound of something giving way. Here nothing comes fully apart. A surface simply opens in lines under drying or strain, as parched ground does, and the verb works with or without an object: the ice cracked, the frost cracked the pipe.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The splitting senses developed from the sound of breaking. darwin-online.org.uk
3
break openverbtransitive
To break open or into pieces through impact or stress, or to make something break this way.
He cracked the lobster shell to get at the meat inside.
You can crack the coconut by striking it along its middle.
UsageCommon with open: crack a nut open, crack open a coconut. You crack eggs into a bowl or pan.
Similarbreak, smash, split
4
cocainenoununcountable
A potent, cheap, and highly addictive form of cocaine, usually shaped into hard rocks and smoked through a pipe.
The clinic treats many patients trying to quit crack.
Dealers sold crack on that corner for years.
UsageCrack cocaine is the drug's full name. Crackhead is an insulting word for a person.
Note
The name comes from the crackling sound the rocks make when heated for smoking. Compounds carry much of its everyday use: crackhead, crack fiend, crack pipe. 2Pac's "Dear Mama" (1995) sets crack fiend right beside black queen.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
The drug's name comes from the crackling sound it makes when heated for smoking. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
“Dear Mama” is a song by 2Pac released in 1995. en.wikipedia.org
In “Dear Mama,” 2Pac places “crack fiend” and “black queen” in adjacent lines. booknotes.c-span.org
5
solveverbfigurativelytransitive
To find the solution to a difficult or puzzling problem.
Analysts cracked the enemy's code during the war.
She wants to crack the mystery of the missing files.
UsageCommon objects: crack the case, crack the code. I've cracked it! means you have finally found the answer.
Similarsolve, decipher, decode, break, unravel
Note
With a named object the verb shades into getting past a security system, and crack the code sits comfortably in both.
6
defeat a lockverbtransitive
To break into or get around a security system or protection, such as a safe, a password, or the copy or region locks on software or a device.
Burglars crack modern safes using sound sensors and patience.
She cracked the building's alarm system before anyone noticed.
Similarbypass, defeat
7
attemptnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
An attempt at doing or achieving something.
He decided to take a crack at writing a novel.
Give the new recipe a crack this weekend.
UsageUsed in have a crack at, take a crack at and give something a crack.
Similartry, go (entry), shot, stab, attempt
8
tell (a joke)verbtransitive
To tell a joke, or to make a quick witty or mocking remark.
The host cracked a joke about the weather to open the show.
He would crack jokes whenever the meeting grew tense.
UsageMostly crack a joke or crack jokes, with about for the topic: crack jokes about the weather.
Similartell, make
9
first-rateadjective
Of the highest quality; expert, skilled, or first-rate.
He was a crack swimmer who dominated every race.
She proved a crack accountant, spotting errors everyone else missed.
UsageUsed before a noun: a crack shot, crack troops, a crack team.
Similarexpert, first-rate, excellent, accomplished, ace
Oppositemediocre, incompetent, inept
Note
It praises both skill and the best of a kind, and it reaches well beyond people. Dickens uses it in David Copperfield (1849–50), and in Modern Railways (1962) J. N. Faulkner writes of the crack transatlantic liners. In crack shot and crack troops the idea of expert training stays strongest.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
Charles Dickens uses the adjective crack in David Copperfield. gutenberg.org
David Copperfield was first published in 1849–1850, as a serial; its first book edition appeared in 1850. en.wikipedia.org
J. N. Faulkner wrote of crack transatlantic liners in Modern Railways in 1962; the citation is to April, page 264. en.wiktionary.org
10
sharp soundnouncountableonomatopoeic
A sharp, sudden sound, such as that of a whip, a gunshot, or something solid breaking or snapping.
A sharp crack echoed through the forest as the tree fell.
The crack of the whip startled the horses.
UsageOften the crack of + the thing: the crack of a whip, the crack of the bat.
Similarsnap, pop, bang, clap, clack
11
piracy toolnouncountable
A program or technique used to bypass software restrictions or limits on use.
The forum was shut down for distributing a crack for the accounting software.
A crack circulated online within hours of the program's release.
UsageThe program it unlocks follows for: a crack for the software.
Similarhack
Note
Computing turns the act into a thing you can download and run.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Software cracks can take the form of runnable programs. en.wikipedia.org
12
verbcolloquialtransitive
To barely reach or get into a particular figure, level or ranking.
Their debut single never cracked the Top 40.
Few rookies crack 100 rushing yards in their first game.
UsageOften in the negative: never cracked the Top 40, didn't crack 50 degrees.
Similarmake, reach, break
Note
The object is a ranking or a round number, and the picture is of breaking into a closed group from outside. Used positively, it implies the figure was only just reached.
13
nouncountable
A narrow opening, such as the gap between a door and its frame.
A cold draft slipped through the crack under the door.
He slid the note through a crack in the fence.
Similargap, chink, slit, opening, crevice
Note
It also stretches to any narrow gap you can squeeze through. Figuratively, it can mean the first weakness in something that held firm, as when Phil McNulty's BBC report (2011) describes the first cracks in a home side's resilience.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Phil McNulty's BBC report dates from 2011. en.wiktionary.org
The report describes cracks in the home side's resilience. en.wiktionary.org
14
open slightlyverbtransitive
To open something slightly, leaving a small gap.
He cracked the window an inch to release the heat.
Crack the lid so the steam can escape.
UsageMost often with windows, doors and lids: crack the window, crack the door open.
Similaropen
Oppositeclose, shut
15
give inverbintransitive
To lose control or give in under pressure, especially to confess under questioning; also, to make someone give in this way.
After three days without sleep, the prisoner cracked and confessed.
Strong witnesses rarely crack under aggressive cross-examination.
Similarbreak, cave, crumble, buckle, snap

Less common meanings

16
open (drink)verbcolloquialtransitive
To open a canned drink, or any packaged drink or food.
She cracked a bottle of sparkling water to celebrate.
Once the tent is up, let's crack a few cans by the fire.
UsageUsed with or without open: crack a can, crack open a bottle.
Similaropen, pop
Note
The habit is older than the can. The Strand of 1894 has one man inviting another to crack a bottle.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
The habit of 'cracking' a bottle predates the can: the expression already occurs in Tom Jones (1749). gutenberg.org
The relevant issue of The Strand was published in 1894. en.wikisource.org
The story depicts Bouvet inviting the narrator, Brigadier Gerard, to crack a bottle of wine together. dfw-sherlock.org
17
verbintransitive
To make a sharp, sudden noise like that of something snapping or striking hard.
Overhead, thunder cracked and rolled across the valley.
When he connects, you can hear the bat crack all the way up in the bleachers.
Similarsnap, crash
Note
As a sound verb it suits single sharp reports, such as thunder, a whip, or a bat meeting the ball cleanly. A voice that cracks is doing something else, jumping in register rather than making a bang.
18
hit hardverbtransitive
To strike something or someone forcefully.
The officer cracked the suspect across the shins with his baton.
Players who crack opponents with their elbows get penalized.
UsageCommon patterns include crack someone on the head, over the head, or across the shins.
Similarhit, strike, whack, smack, bash
19
voice breakverbintransitive
Of a voice, to break suddenly or change pitch without control, as from emotion, strain, or the changes of puberty.
The boy's voice cracked mid-sentence, swinging from a squeak to a low rumble.
As puberty sets in, voices crack unpredictably for months.
UsageOften crack with a feeling: her voice cracked with emotion.
Similarbreak, waver
20
snap (sound)verbtransitive
To cause something to produce a sharp, sudden sound.
The driver cracked the whip and the team lurched forward.
He likes to crack his knuckles before a big game.
UsageSet phrases: crack your knuckles, crack the whip. Crack the whip also means push people to work harder.
Similarsnap, pop
21
between buttocksnouncolloquialcountable
The cleft or groove between the buttocks.
His low-slung jeans revealed his crack whenever he crouched.
Sand got stuck in his crack after he sat on the beach.
UsageThe compounds butt crack and bum crack remove any doubt about which crack is meant.
Similarbuttcrack
Note
On its own, the bare noun relies on context, as in the familiar warning that someone's crack is showing.
22
addictive treatnounslangfigurativelyhumorousuncountable
Something so good-tasting or enjoyable that it becomes hard to stop, as if addictive.
Like a show you binge in one night because you can't look away.
Her homemade caramel popcorn is basically crack at every party.
Fans call the game crack because nobody can put it down.
UsageOften pure crack or total crack, said of a food or a show.
Note
A joke built on the drug: calling a food crack says you cannot stop eating it. In 2012 New York Magazine counted menus offering salted crack caramel ice cream, pistachio crack brittle and tuna on crack.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
The food metaphor extends the drug sense by suggesting habit-forming pleasure. en.wiktionary.org
In 2012 New York Magazine reported the three named foods. nymag.com
23
hard blownouncountable
A sharp, hard blow that produces a loud, ringing sound.
The goalie took a hard crack on the helmet from a slap shot but stayed in the game.
She gave the jammed lid a sharp crack with the heel of her hand.
Similarblow, smack, whack, rap, thump
Note
A homely idiom goes with it: to fetch someone a crack, meaning to land a blow on them. In Dickens's Bleak House (1852–53), an unpleasantness between Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Piper begins when one boy "fetched" the other "a crack." The word keeps the sound of the hit, so it suits a smart, ringing blow rather than a dull thump.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
Charles Dickens wrote Bleak House. en.wikisource.org
Bleak House was first published in 1852–53, as a serial; its first book edition appeared in 1853. gla.ac.uk
The narrator attributes the disagreement between Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Piper to young Perkins having fetched young Piper a crack; the quoted words are exact. gutenberg.org
24
nouncountable
A sudden break or change of pitch in a voice, caused by emotion, strain, or the changes of puberty.
The crack in his voice betrayed how young he still was.
Listeners noticed the crack creeping into the choirboy's high notes.
UsageUsually a crack in someone's voice.
Similarbreak, quaver, waver
Note
Shakespeare uses the noun for the breaking voice. In Cymbeline (1623), a character proposes to sing a dirge even though "our voices have got the mannish crack." The adjective mannish shows where the crack leads: toward a man's register. The matching verb is a voice cracking at puberty, and both are used mostly of boys.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
William Shakespeare wrote Cymbeline. gutenberg.org
Cymbeline was first published in 1623, in the First Folio. folger.edu
A character proposes singing a dirge despite having the mannish crack; the quotation is exact and its speaker is Arviragus, disguised as Cadwal. folger.edu
25
mocking remarknouncountable
A sharply humorous or mocking remark.
He couldn't resist a crack at his rival's expense.
She made a crack about the boss's new haircut.
Usagemake a crack about something, or a crack at someone's expense.
Similardig, jibe, quip, wisecrack, joke
26
good companynoundialectalIrelandNorthern EnglandScotlanduncountable
Lively fun, good conversation, news and gossip, and enjoyable company.
Like the buzz of a lively dinner where no one wants to leave.
The pub was full of music and crack until closing time.
She came along just for the crack and the company.
UsageOften good crack or great crack, and What's the crack? asks for news. Also spelled craic.
Similarcraic, jollity, joviality, bonhomie
Note
Walter Scott's Rob Roy (1817) has a character who must "hae a crack wi' an auld acquaintance," and Arthur Munby's dialect verse of 1865 stops "for a bit of a crack."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
Walter Scott wrote Rob Roy. gutenberg.org
The first-edition title page is dated 1818, the year required by your convention. Actual publication was on 30 December 1817. walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk
A character in Rob Roy says the quoted words; the speaker is Bailie Nicol Jarvie. gutenberg.org
Arthur Munby's Verses New and Old was published in 1865. en.wikipedia.org
Munby's dialect poem contains the quoted phrase, describing Jan stopping for a chat. en.wiktionary.org
27
verb
To break down a complex molecule into simpler ones, especially by applying heat.
28
verb
To come to understand that you are transgender, often after a period of doubt.
29
verbobsolete
To talk about yourself in a proud, showy way.
And Æthiopes of their ſweet complexion crack.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”
30
verbarchaic
To break down or come to nothing, losing strength or value.
31
verbslang
To have sexual intercourse with someone.
32
nounslang
A vulgar word for a woman's genitals.
33
noundialectalIrelandNorthern EnglandScotland
Current goings-on, such as local news or gossip, as in 'what's the crack?'.
34
noundatedUS
A white ring of water that spreads out just behind the dark slick after a large blast not far below the surface, linked to the blast's shock wave.
35
noundialectalCumbria
A friendly conversation or talk.
36
noun
Wildly absurd or ridiculous ideas or writing, especially fan fiction.
37
nounarchaic
A slight weakness of mind, or a touch of madness.
38
nounarchaic
A person who seems mad or foolish.
39
nounobsolete
Bragging talk, or a single brag.
D'ye hear wha's coming to cow yere cracks?
1814, Walter Scott, Waverley
40
nounobsolete
A lapse in sexual purity.
But thinke her bond of Chaſtity quite crack'd, I hauing 'tane the forfeyt.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”
41
nounobsolete
A cheeky, spirited young lad.
Indeed la, tis a noble childe. / - A Cracke Madam.
c. 1608, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”
42
noundatedUK
A very short moment of time.
43
noundated
An attempt to flirt with someone or win them over romantically.
The eyes of my sisters who fear my crack^* [footnote] Before the popularization of the term "crack" as a drug, its common usage in the Black community referred to men publicly cruising and approaching women.
1987, Joseph Beam, “Creating Myself from Scratch: Living as a Black Gay Man in the 1980s”
44
nounobsolete
Wood that has been dried and is ready to burn.
45
nounobsolete
A top performer, such as a champion racehorse.
1st Gent. What dost think, Jockey? / 2nd Gent. The crack o' the field's against you.
1888, James Shirley, Hyde Park

More uses

crack a smileto smile, even a little
crack a bookto open a book and start studying
crack upto start laughing, or to make someone laugh

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of crack apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–8, 10–26

From Middle English craken, from Old English cracian ('to resound, crack'), tracing back through Proto-West Germanic *krakōn ('to crack, crackle, shriek') to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to resound, cry hoarsely'. It is related to Dutch kraken, German krachen, and Scots crak.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts

Crack derives from Middle English craken, from Old English cracian, meaning ‘to resound, crack’. en.wiktionary.org
Old English cracian derives from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn, meaning ‘to crack, crackle, shriek’. en.wiktionary.org
The ancestry extends to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning ‘to resound, cry hoarsely’. en.wiktionary.org
Crack is related to Dutch kraken and German krachen. en.wiktionary.org
Crack is related to Scots crak. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 9

Recorded as slang from 1793. One idea links it to the verb's meaning of acting fast or smartly. Another links it to boastful talk, as when a person has reason for pride.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

The slang adjective is recorded from 1793. en.wiktionary.org
One proposed origin is the verb meaning to do something quickly or intelligently. en.wiktionary.org
Another proposed origin is boastful speech and having something to be proud of. en.wiktionary.org