crackle
Americanverb (used without object)
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crackles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
crackled,
past participle, past
-
crackling
present participle
-
to make slight, sudden, sharp noises, rapidly repeated.
-
to form a network of fine cracks on the surface.
-
(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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crackles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
crackled,
past participle, past
-
crackling
present participle
-
to cause to crackle.
-
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
-
is cracklingprogressive
-
have been cracklingperfect progressive
-
has been cracklingperfect progressive
Past
-
crackledsimple
-
had crackledperfect
-
was cracklingprogressive
-
were cracklingprogressive
-
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.
See Examples For:
Inside a cool, dimly lighted trailer where the quiet is broken mostly by the crackle of radio traffic, Abrin Vasquez drives a 40-ton bulldozer hundreds of yards away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
But the crackle of anticipation in Westminster Hall made abundantly clear that this was anything but standard.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
When he sat up, he heard the skin on his stomach crackle.
From Slate ● May 13, 2026
Hearing the crackle of a small flame — that slightly charred, earthy smell — while a slab of pork fat pops in the cooking kettle, slowly melting down as the base for tonight’s sauce.
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
Above the crackle of the fire he heard Renn muttering angrily.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
In this “multilayered police procedural,” Tom Nolan writes, Mr. Johnson has produced tale that crackles with “verve, satire and rage.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The soy sauce deepens it; the bacon crackles; the avocado cools everything down.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
The chemistry between Breckenridge and Eggold truly crackles onscreen, and the clever script gives the actors much to work with.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025
Everyone laughs and a few people nod knowingly as pops and crackles erupt from all over the room.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2025
The radio crackles and squawks, interrupted now and then by a soothing French voice, then a wisp of violin and a quiet French horn.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
He crackled with the energy of someone who had nothing left to lose and a great deal left to say.
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
When their signal returned, Koch’s voice crackled back to Houston with a message for humanity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Another bushfire near the small town of Walwa crackled with lightning as it radiated enough heat to form a localised thunderstorm.
From Barron's ● Jan. 11, 2026
Thunder and lightning crackled over the strobing sky.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025
Flames crackled, adding the scent of burning pine to the overwhelming smells from all of Doc’s potions and oils combined.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
Nor is there anything inherently noble about making employees spend eight hours deciphering orders shouted through crackling speakers while the ice-cream machine is down and a small diplomatic crisis is unfolding in the PlayPlace.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
But on his new solo album, “Thrasher,” he trades the Killers’ gleaming, synth-laced rock for the crackling sound of hand-played country music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Simon soon picks up a handheld CRT device to help with sneaking - a clever updated version of another staple of the Silent Hill series: the crackling radio.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Resident Sutrismi, 47, said she was at home on Saturday when she heard a "crackling sound", looked out of the window and saw smoke rising from the peatland across the road.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
In the crackling quiet, music still welled up from the Winter Garden.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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