hydraulic fracturing

noun

a process in which fractures in rocks below the earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure: used especially to extract natural gas or oil.

Nearby words

hydraulic, hydraulic accumulator, hydraulic brake, hydraulic cement, hydraulic fluid, hydraulic fracturing, hydraulic lift, hydraulic mining, hydraulic motor, hydraulic pile, hydraulic press

Also called frack·ing

[frak-ing] /ˈfræk ɪŋ/, hy·dro·frack·ing [hahy-droh-frak-ing] /ˈhaɪ droʊˌfræk ɪŋ/, hy·dro·frac·tur·ing [hahy-droh-frak-cher-ing] /ˈhaɪ droʊˌfræk tʃər ɪŋ/.