# cracking

Pronunciation: say "KRAK-ing" /ˈkɹækɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle of crack. — present participle and gerund of crack
   - Simple: Present participle of crack. Use this -ing form for the action happening now or as the name of the action.
   - _The dry paint was cracking along the edges of the old canvas._
   - _Cracking the safe took the thief less than ten minutes._

## Noun

2. The appearance or development of cracks across a surface.
   - Simple: The forming of thin breaks or lines across a surface.
   - _Inspectors noted significant cracking in the bridge's concrete supports._
   - _Cracking in the glaze gives the old pottery its antique look._
3. The making of a sharp, sudden sound, such as that of something snapping or breaking.
   - Simple: The making of a short, sharp sound, like something snapping.
   - _The cracking of the frozen lake startled the skaters._
   - _A loud cracking came from the fireplace as the logs burned down._
8. The breakdown of a substance by heat, especially of crude petroleum, in order to produce gasoline.
   - Simple: Breaking large oil molecules into smaller ones with heat to make fuels like gasoline.
   - _Catalytic cracking increased the plant's gasoline yield substantially._
   - _Engineers adjusted the temperature to optimize cracking of the heavy fractions._

## Adjective

4. Great or excellent; of very high quality. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Very good or excellent.
   - _The team delivered a cracking performance in the final._
   - _That chef serves a cracking three-course meal for the price._
5. Producing a sharp, sudden sound, as of something splitting or breaking.
   - Simple: Making a sharp, sudden sound, like something splitting or breaking.
   - _The cracking timbers of the ship warned the crew of danger._
   - _A cracking peal of thunder split the evening silence._
7. Thoroughly enjoyable. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Fun and enjoyable.
   - _The whole family had a cracking day out at the fair._
   - _It turned out to be a cracking vacation despite the rain._

## Adverb

6. To a high degree; very, typically used to intensify a word of praise. *(British)*
   - Simple: Used before another word to mean 'very,' especially when praising something.
   - _The new pub does a cracking good Sunday roast._
   - _It was a cracking good match down at the ground on Saturday._

## Origin

This word comes from the Middle English "crakynge".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cracking (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).