cracking

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of crack. Use this -ing form for the action happening now or as the name of the action.

   The ice was cracking under our feet as we walked.

   She kept cracking jokes all through dinner.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   The forming of thin breaks or lines across a surface.

   Like the thin lines that appear on dry mud after the sun bakes it.

   Years of sun caused cracking on the leather seats.

   The wall showed cracking after the earthquake.

   Similarcrazing, fracturing, fissuring

3. 3
   noununcountable

   The making of a short, sharp sound, like something snapping.

   Like the snap you hear when you break a dry twig.

   The cracking of the whip echoed across the yard.

   We heard the cracking of branches as the bear pushed through.

   Similarsnapping, crackling, popping

   Note
4. 4
   adjectivecolloquial

   Very good or excellent.

   The band put on a cracking show last night.

   She came up with a cracking solution to the problem.

   Similarexcellent, great, superb, terrific, brilliant

   Oppositepoor, awful, dismal, terrible

   Note
5. 5
   adjective

   Making a sharp, sudden sound, like something splitting or breaking.

   The cracking whip drove the horses forward.

   We heard a loud, cracking report as the branch gave way.

   Similarcrashing

   Note
6. 6
   adverbBritish

   Used before another word to mean 'very,' especially when praising something.

   The little cottage was cracking good value for the price.

   She did a cracking good job on the report.

   Similarjolly, really, very

   Note
7. 7
   adjectivecolloquial

   Fun and enjoyable.

   The festival was an absolutely cracking experience.

   They spent a cracking afternoon fishing by the river.

   Similargreat, wonderful, fantastic, terrific, smashing

   Oppositemiserable, dreadful, awful

8. 8
   noununcountable

   Breaking large oil molecules into smaller ones with heat to make fuels like gasoline.

   Like chopping long sticks into shorter, more useful pieces.

   The refinery uses cracking to turn heavy oil into gasoline.

   Cracking helps make more gasoline from each barrel of crude oil.

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 8