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Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: crack down vb (intr, adverb) often followed by on: - to take severe measures (against); become stricter (with)
n crackdown - severe or repressive measures
crack /kræk/USA pronunciation v. - to break without separation of parts;
(cause to) become marked by lines that indicate a break: [no object]The window cracked when a rock hit it.[~ + object]The rock cracked the glass. - to break open or into many parts: [~ + object]cracked an egg into the bowl.[no object]The egg cracked when it hit the floor.
- to break with a sudden, sharp sound: [no object]The wood in the fireplace cracked suddenly.[~ + object]I cracked a few pieces of wood and added them to the fire.
- to (cause to) make a sudden, sharp sound;
snap: [no object]The whip cracked and the lions roared.[~ + object]I cracked my knuckles nervously. - (of the voice) to break abruptly;
change to the wrong pitch:[no object]The tenor's voice cracked on that high note. - to break down, esp. under severe psychological pressure:[no object]He finally cracked from all the stress.
- to strike forcefully: [no object]His head cracked against the mantelpiece.[~ + object]She cracked his head with the vase.
- to solve or reveal, esp. after much effort:[~ + object]to crack a murder case.
- Informal Terms Informal. to break into (a safe, etc.):[~ + object]tried to crack the safe but couldn't.
- Informal Terms[~ + object] Informal.
- to open slightly, such as a door or window:Crack the windows and let's get some fresh air.
- to open (a book) in order to study or read:It was a little late to be cracking the books.
- crack down, to take severe measures, esp. in enforcing regulations: [no object]tried to crack down, but by then things had gotten out of control.[~ + down + on + object]a campaign to crack down on drug pushers.
- crack up, Informal.
- [no object] to suffer a mental breakdown:He cracked up when his wife left him.
- to (cause to) crash (an automobile or airplane): [no object]The car spun out of control and cracked up.[~ + up + object]cracked up his father's brand-new car.[~ + object + up]He cracked the car up the first time he drove it.
- to (cause to) laugh hard without being able to stop: [no object]He cracked up at the sight of her in those old frumpy pajamas.[~ + up + object]That joke cracked up the audience.[~ + object + up]That joke cracked him up.
n. - a break without separation of parts:[countable]a few cracks on the windshield.
- Building a slight opening, as between boards in a floor:[countable]We plastered the cracks in the wall.
- a sudden, sharp noise:[countable]The crack of a rifle shot rang out.
- [countable] the snap of or as of a whip.
- a heavy or strong blow:[countable]a crack to the jaw.
- Informal Terms a sharp or funny remark:[countable]"Another crack like that and you'll be out of here,'' the umpire yelled.
- a break in the tone of the voice:[countable]answered with a small crack in her voice.
- Informal Terms[countable] a chance;
try: I'd like a crack at that. - Drugs[uncountable] highly addictive, purified cocaine in the form of pellets for smoking.
adj. [before a noun] - skillful;
excellent;
of high quality:a crack shot.
Idioms- crack a smile, Informal. to smile, esp. hesitantly.
- Idioms get cracking, [no object] to get moving;
hurry up: We're late—let's get cracking.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024crack (krak),USA pronunciation v.i. - to break without complete separation of parts;
become fissured:The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable. - to break with a sudden, sharp sound:The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.
- to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking;
snap:The whip cracked. - (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, esp. into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
- to fail;
give way:His confidence cracked under the strain. - to succumb or break down, esp. under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like:They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.
- Chemistryto decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
- Dialect Terms[Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.]to brag;
boast. - Scottish Terms[Chiefly Scot.]to chat;
gossip.
v.t. - to cause to make a sudden sharp sound:The driver cracked the whip.
- to break without complete separation of parts;
break into fissures. - to break with a sudden, sharp sound:to crack walnuts.
- to strike and thereby make a sharp noise:The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.
- to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion;
affect deeply. - to utter or tell:to crack jokes.
- to cause to make a cracking sound:to crack one's knuckles.
- to damage, weaken, etc.:The new evidence against him cracked his composure.
- to make mentally unsound.
- to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
- to solve;
decipher:to crack a murder case. - Informal Termsto break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
- Chemistryto subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
- Informal Termsto open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).
- crack a book, [Informal.]to open a book in order to study or read:He hardly ever cracked a book.
- crack a smile, [Informal.]to smile.
- crack down, to take severe or stern measures, esp. in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations:The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.
- crack off, to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.
- crack on, [Naut.]
- Naval Terms(of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.
- Naval Terms(of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.
- crack up, [Informal.]
- to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.
- to crash, as in an automobile or airplane:He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.
- to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.
- to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly:That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.
- crack wise, [Slang.]to wisecrack:We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.
- get cracking, [Informal.]
- to begin moving or working;
start:Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes! - to work or move more quickly.
n. - a break without complete separation of parts;
fissure. - Buildinga slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
- a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
- the snap of or as of a whip.
- a resounding blow:He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.
- Informal Termsa witty or cutting remark;
wisecrack. - a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
- Informal Termsopportunity;
chance;
try:Give him first crack at the new job. - a flaw or defect.
- Drugs, Slang TermsAlso called rock. [Slang.]pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
- Agriculture, Building[Masonry.]check1 (def. 46).
- a mental defect or deficiency.
- a shot, as with a rifle:At the first crack, the deer fell.
- a moment;
instant:He was on his feet again in a crack. - Slang Termsa burglary, esp. an instance of housebreaking.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]a person or thing that excels in some respect.
- Slang Terms(vulgar). the vulva.
- Scottish Terms[Chiefly Scot.]conversation;
chat. - British Termsboasting;
braggadocio. - [Archaic.]a burglar.
- Idioms fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, missed, or neglected:In any inspection process some defective materials will fall through the cracks.Also, slip between the cracks.
adj. - first-rate;
excellent:a crack shot.
adv. - with a cracking sound.
- bef. 1000; Middle English crak(k)en (verb, verbal), crak (noun, nominal), Old English cracian to resound; akin to German krachen, Dutch kraken (verb, verbal), and German Krach, Dutch krak (noun, nominal)
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