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.

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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

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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

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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

His condition is both a superpower and a vulnerability, as we see when he discovers a dangerous new skill, cracking safes, with his unique ability to hear the tumblers of the lock moving internally.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

And if there's one way to get a UK dancefloor going, it's cracking out The Killers' Mr Brightside, and the crowd at the main stage thanked him by chanting back every lyric.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Sometime in the next few years, we are going to see quantum computers cracking cryptology.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

‘Hannie, please don’t go,’ I said, my voice cracking.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

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