cracking

[krak-ing]

noun

1. (in the distillation of petroleum or the like) the process of breaking down certain hydrocarbons into simpler ones of lower boiling points by means of excess heat, distillation under pressure, etc., in order to give a greater yield of low-boiling products than could be obtained by simple distillation.

adverb

1. extremely; unusually.

   We saw a cracking good match at the stadium.

adjective

Informal.

1. done with precision; smart.

   A cracking salute from the honor guard.

cracking

/ ˈkrækɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal,  (prenominal) fast; vigorous (esp in the phrase a cracking pace )

2. informal,  to start doing something quickly or do something with increased speed

adverb

1. informal,  first-class; excellent

   a cracking good match

noun

1. the process in which molecules are cracked, esp the oil-refining process in which heavy oils are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight by heat or catalysis See also catalytic cracker

cracking

1. The process of breaking down complex chemical compounds by heating them. Sometimes a catalyst is added to lower the amount of heat needed for the reaction. Cracking is used especially for breaking petroleum molecules into shorter molecules and to extract low-boiling fractions, such as gasoline, from petroleum.

2. See also hydrocracking

Word History and Origins

Origin of cracking¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; crack, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get cracking. crack.

Example Sentences

Beijing has been cracking down on excess capacity in some sectors to rein in “disorderly” competition and price wars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Del Toro delights in the kinetic gusto of the tale, the grotesquerie of cracking limbs and blood sloshing about Victor’s shoes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It also hosts AI-generated music on its platform, and recently announced it was cracking down on artists who did not disclose the use of AI or who used it to impersonate real artists.

Read more on BBC

Historically, some states have redistricted minority communities in ways that dilute their voting power, such as “cracking” a community into multiple districts where they compose a small percentage of the electorate.

Read more on Salon

It said it was cracking down on criminal gangs that exploited the chaos to loot aid and attack other Palestinians.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amazing 
• astounding 
• awesome 
• colossal 
• dreadful 
• enormous 
• excellent 
• exceptional 
• extraordinary 
• fabulous 
• fantastic 
• formidable 
• great 
• immense 
• incredible 
• marvelous 
• massive 
• monumental 
• prodigious 
• terrible