Crack | Mean of crack in English Dictionary

/ˈkræk/

• Verb
• to break (something) so that there are lines in its surface but it is usually not separated into pieces
1. The hailstones were big enough to crack some windows.
2. He cracked his collarbone in a skiing accident.
3. The mirror/glass cracked when she dropped it.
4. A piece of the statue cracked off. [=broke off]
• to hit or press (something) so hard that it breaks apart or opens suddenly
1. Workers cracked the large rock into three pieces so it could be moved.
2. The bird cracked the seed on a tree branch.
3. a tool used for cracking nuts
4. He cracked open the eggs.
• to hit (someone or something) hard and usually suddenly
1. Someone cracked him over the head with a beer bottle.
2. The baby cracked her chin pretty hard when she fell.
3. He fell and cracked his elbow on/against the ice.

• to open (a bottle or can) for drinking
1. He cracked open a beer.
• to open (a book) for studying or reading
1. He hardly cracked a book his whole first semester of college.
2. It's a perfect day to relax and crack open a good book.
• to open (a safe) illegally without having a key, combination, etc.
1. Any good thief could crack this safe.
• to find an answer or solution to (something)
1. Scientists have cracked [=solved] an ancient mystery using new technology.
2. The police finally cracked [=broke] the case and arrested the murderer.
• to find the meaning of (a secret code)
1. He was able to crack [=break] the enemy's secret code.
• to open (something, such as a door or window) a small amount
1. She cracked open the door and peeked into the room.
• to cause (something) to make a sudden loud sound
1. When the sled dogs heard her crack the whip, they broke into a run.
2. His habit of cracking his knuckles bothered her.
3. The sled dogs are trained to run when they hear the whip crack.
• to change sharply in tone or pitch especially because of strong emotion
1. Her voice cracked (with emotion) as she told them what had happened.
• to tell (a joke)
1. The two of them crack jokes all the time. = The two of them are always cracking jokes.
• to lose strength or the ability to resist or fight
1. After hours of questioning by the police, the suspect finally cracked. [=finally told the police what they wanted to know]
2. He cracked under the pressure/stress of the job.
• to smile
1. I tried to get him to laugh, but he never even cracked a smile.
• to start to be strict about punishing people for doing something that is illegal or not allowed
1. People have been violating this law for years, and now the government is finally starting to crack down.
2. Authorities are cracking down on companies that pollute.
• to enter or get started in (something, such as a profession)
1. Its not easy to crack into [=break into] professional football.
• to force people to work very hard
1. The team needs a coach who isn't afraid to crack the whip.
• to begin laughing or cause (someone) to begin laughing suddenly and in a way that is difficult to control
1. When we saw the picture, we both cracked up.
2. That joke really cracks me up. [=I think that joke is very funny]
• to become mentally ill
1. The stress was getting worse, and she felt herself cracking up. [=going crazy]
• to damage (a vehicle) by crashing
1. I cracked up [=crashed] on a curve in the road.
2. I cracked up [=crashed] the car.
• to say something that is funny and smart
1. She's always cracking wise.
• to start doing something
1. You ought to get cracking [=get going; get moving] on that assignment. [=you should start working on that assignment right away]
• Noun
• a thin line in the surface of something that is broken but not separated into pieces
1. The crack runs all the way from the top of the wall to the bottom.
2. an old patio with grass growing up through the cracks
3. The vase has a few fine cracks, but it is still usable.
4. There were cracks in the ice.
5. There is a crack in the mirror/windshield/glass.
6. Grass is growing up through the cracks in the old patio.
• a very narrow space or opening between two things or two parts of something
1. I could see them through the crack in the doorway.
2. Light came through the cracks in the walls of the barn.
3. Could you please open the window a crack? [=open it slightly] It's getting hot in here.
• a sudden loud, sharp sound
1. We heard a loud crack as the ice broke.
2. The horse was frightened by the crack of the whip.
3. a crack of thunder
• a brief change in the sound of a person's voice especially because of strong emotion
1. There was a crack in her voice as she told us her story.
• a weakness or problem
1. Your theory/argument has a few cracks.
2. The cracks in their relationship were becoming evident.
• a joke or rude remark
1. They're always making cracks [=wisecracks] about their teacher.
2. I didn't appreciate your crack about my weight.
• a hard and sudden hit
1. Someone gave him a crack on the head with a beer bottle.
• an effort or attempt to do something
1. She succeeded in her first crack at writing a novel.
2. If he's lucky, he'll get to take a crack at (a career in) professional baseball.
3. Let me have a crack at it.
• an illegal drug that is a form of cocaine
1. He is addicted to crack.
2. They were smoking crack.
• very early in the morning
1. We got up at the crack of dawn to go fishing.
• to fail to be noticed or included with others
1. Parents are concerned that children who have trouble in school will fall through the cracks in the school system. [=will not be given the help they need; will graduate without anyone noticing that they are unable to do the work]
2. The program is meant to help workers who may have slipped through the cracks [=who may have not been included in other programs] because of their age.
• very good
1. crack troops
2. The company has a crack sales force.
3. I hear she's become a crack shot. [=a person who is very good at shooting a gun]