crack

Meanings

Verb

  • To form cracks.
  • To break apart under pressure.
  • To become debilitated by psychological pressure.
  • To break down or yield, especially under interrogation or torture.
  • To make a cracking sound.
  • To change rapidly in register.
  • To alternate between high and low register in the process of eventually lowering.
  • To make a sharply humorous comment.
  • To make a crack or cracks in.
  • To break open or crush to small pieces by impact or stress.
  • To strike forcefully.
  • To open slightly.
  • To cause to yield under interrogation or other pressure.
  • To solve a difficult problem.
  • To overcome a security system or a component.
  • To cause to make a sharp sound.
  • To tell (a joke).
  • To break down (a complex molecule), especially with the application of heat: to pyrolyse.
  • To circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.
  • To open a canned beverage, or any packaged drink or food.
  • To brag, boast.
  • To be ruined or impaired; to fail.

Noun

Adjective

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • From Middle English crakken, craken, from Old English cracian ("to resound, crack"), from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn, from Proto-Germanic *krakōną ("to crack, crackle, shriek"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂- ("to resound, cry hoarsely").
  • Cognate with Scots crak ("to crack"), West Frisian kreakje ("to crack"), Dutch kraken ("to crunch, creak, squeak"), Low German kraken ("to crack"), German krachen ("to crash, crack, creak"), Lithuanian gìrgžděti ("to creak, squeak"), Old Armenian կարկաչ, Sanskrit गर्जति ("to roar, hum").
  • Of Unknown origin.

Modern English dictionary

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