释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024cracked /krækt/USA pronunciation adj. - broken without separation of parts:cracked walls.
- damaged;
injured:cracked ribs. - Informal Termseccentric;
mad:The captain is cracked; we may have to mutiny. - broken in tone, as the voice:answering in a cracked voice.
Idioms- Idioms, Informal Terms cracked up to be, [after a negative word or phrase][Informal.]expected by reputation to be: I hear the play is not what it's cracked up to be.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024cracked (krakt),USA pronunciation adj. - broken:a container full of cracked ice.
- broken without separation of parts;
fissured. - damaged;
injured. - Informal Termseccentric;
mad; daffy:a charming person, but a bit cracked. - broken in tone, as the voice.
- cracked up to be, [Informal.]reported or reputed to be (usually used in the negative):I hear the play is not what it's cracked up to be.
- late Middle English crachyd. See crack, -ed2 1400–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: cracked /krækt/ adj - damaged by cracking
- informal crazy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024crack /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)
crack′a•ble, adj. crack′less, adj. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: crack /kræk/ vb - to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts: the vase was cracked but unbroken
- to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap: to crack a nut
- to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound: to crack a whip
- to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
- informal to fail or cause to fail
- to yield or cause to yield: to crack under torture
- (transitive) to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
- (transitive) to break into or force open: to crack a safe
- (transitive) to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
- (transitive) informal to tell (a joke, etc)
- to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
- (transitive) to open (esp a bottle) for drinking: let's crack another bottle
- (intransitive) Scot Northern English dialect to chat; gossip
- (transitive) informal to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it)
- (transitive) Austral informal to find or catch: to crack a wave in surfing
- crack a smile ⇒ informal to break into a smile
- crack hardy, crack hearty ⇒ Austral NZ informal to disguise one's discomfort, etc; put on a bold front
- crack the whip ⇒ informal to assert one's authority, esp to put people under pressure to work harder
n - a sudden sharp noise
- a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts: a crack in the window
- a narrow opening or fissure
- informal a resounding blow
- a physical or mental defect; flaw
- a moment or specific instant: the crack of day
- a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy's during puberty
- (often followed by at) informal an attempt; opportunity to try: he had a crack at the problem
- slang a gibe; wisecrack; joke
- slang a person that excels
- Scot Northern English dialect a talk; chat
- slang a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
Also: craic informal chiefly Irish fun; informal entertainment: the crack was great in here last night- obsolete slang a burglar or burglary
- crack of dawn ⇒ the very instant that the sun rises
- very early in the morning
- a fair crack of the whip ⇒ informal a fair chance or opportunity
- crack of doom ⇒ doomsday; the end of the world; the Day of Judgment
adj - (prenominal) slang first-class; excellent: a crack shot
See also crack down, crack on, crack upEtymology: Old English cracian; related to Old High German krahhōn, Dutch kraken, Sanskrit gárjati he roars |