cracking

American  

[krak-ing] / ˈkræk ɪŋ /

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.

idioms

1. get cracking. crack.

cracking British  

/ 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 Scientific  

/ krăk′ĭng /

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

---

Etymology

Origin of cracking

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

Example Sentences

Plus, Bill Gates’s carefully crafted image is cracking, and we look at the realities of aging alone.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Its potential applications range from enabling breakthroughs in drug development and materials science, to cracking encryption techniques widely used in computer security.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Ministers are attempting to crack on, in fact revelling in cracking on, with what they think they are there to do, delivering policies and, they hope, helping people, rather than tearing themselves apart.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

The evidence suggests that extreme heating from the Sun is cracking the asteroid's surface, releasing trapped gases and causing the body to slowly crumble apart.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Every true Spiritualist knew cracking joints could not explain the comfort they received from talking to the dead.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

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