crackle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to make slight, sudden, sharp noises, rapidly repeated.
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to form a network of fine cracks on the surface.
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(of ceramic glaze) to craze.
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to exhibit liveliness, vibrancy, anticipation, etc..
The play crackled with wit.
verb (used with object)
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to cause to crackle.
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to break with a crackling noise.
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to craze (ceramic glaze).
noun
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the act of crackling.
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a crackling noise.
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a network of fine cracks, as in the glaze of some kinds of porcelain.
verb
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to make or cause to make a series of slight sharp noises, as of paper being crushed or of a wood fire burning
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(tr) to decorate (porcelain or pottery) by causing a fine network of cracks to appear in the glaze
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(intr) to abound in vivacity or energy
noun
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the act or sound of crackling
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intentional crazing in the glaze of a piece of porcelain or pottery
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Also called: crackleware. porcelain or pottery so decorated
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cracklesimple
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cracklessimple
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have crackledperfect
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has crackledperfect
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am cracklingprogressive
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are cracklingprogressive
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is cracklingprogressive
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have been cracklingperfect progressive
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has been cracklingperfect progressive
Past
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crackledsimple
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had crackledperfect
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was cracklingprogressive
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were cracklingprogressive
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had been cracklingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of crackle
Explanation
To crackle is to make short, sharp cracking noises. A roaring fire in your wood stove crackles as it burns. Fires crackle, as small branches pop and snap from the heat, and a voice over an intercom might crackle with static. You could also describe the sound of your feet on dried leaves and branches as you walk through the woods as a crackle. A visual crackle, as opposed to one you hear, appears as tiny cracks in the surface: "I like that crackle effect on your table."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The show used to have a sports trivia spinoff that could be found on Crackle, an online streaming service that never quite took off.
From New York Times • May 14, 2024
Parry Headrick founded Massachusetts public relations business Crackle.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2023
The Connecticut company, which owns the bestselling series of self-help books, also owns and operates a variety of ad-supported video platforms, including Crackle, Truli, Popcornflix, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2022
Freevee is intended as Amazon’s competition for services like Pluto TV, Crackle, and Tubi.
From Washington Times • Apr. 13, 2022
Near Silence fell after they was passed, the Silence of the Grass & the Sky; & in that Silence, there was a distant Crackle.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
