crack
Third Person
cracks
Present Participle
cracking
Past Tense
cracked
Past Participle
cracked
1
to break on the surface without falling into separate pieces
- The frozen lake began to crack as temperatures rose, creating patterns on the surface.
- The heat caused the pavement to crack, requiring repairs to prevent further damage.
- The intense sunlight caused the dry soil to crack in the arid desert landscape.
- The painter noticed the old canvas beginning to crack, indicating the need for restoration.
2
to cause something to break, split, or fracture, often resulting in the formation of cracks or fissures
transitive
- The earthquake cracked the foundation of the house.
- The heavy object falling onto the windshield cracked it.
- The impact of the hammer cracked the concrete pavement.
- She cracked the egg against the edge of the bowl, breaking the shell.
- He accidentally cracked the mirror while moving furniture.
Synonyms:
3
to produce a sharp or explosive noise
- As the thunderstorm approached, lightning cracked across the sky.
- The whip cracked loudly as the cowboy urged his horse forward.
- The firecrackers cracked in the distance, signaling the start of the celebration.
- The sound of gunfire cracked through the night, startling the residents.
- The sound of breaking glass cracked through the silence of the abandoned building.
4
to bypass or overcome a security system or barrier
transitive
- The thieves used lock-picking techniques to crack the door's security and break into the building.
- The hackers attempted to crack the company's firewall to gain access to sensitive customer data.
- He managed to crack the combination lock on the safe and steal the valuable contents inside.
- The burglar used a crowbar to crack the window's security bars and enter the house.
- The cybersecurity team works tirelessly to prevent hackers from cracking the network's defenses.
Synonyms:
5
to strike or hit someone or something with force
transitive
- The boxer cracked his opponent with a powerful right hook to the jaw.
- The bully cracked the door with his fist, causing it to splinter.
- He cracked the lock with a heavy wrench, breaking it open.
- The police officer cracked the suspect on the head with a baton during the struggle.
- The chef cracked the lobster shell with a mallet, revealing the tender meat inside.
6
to break due to the application of force, stress, or pressure
- The old bridge cracked and collapsed under the weight of the heavy truck.
- He kicked the door with such force that it cracked down the middle.
- The strong windstorm caused the tree branch to crack and fall onto the roof.
- The strain of the heavy load caused the wooden plank to crack.
Synonyms:
7
to break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds
transitive
- In the laboratory, researchers crack hydrocarbons to produce ethylene and propylene for use in plastics manufacturing.
- To extract valuable chemicals, biomass is cracked into sugars, lignin, and other components.
- In the petrochemical industry, natural gas liquids are cracked into ethylene and other olefins for use in polymer production.
- Biomass can be cracked into bio-oil, biochar, and syngas for use in renewable energy production.
- In organic chemistry, certain reactions involve cracking carbon-carbon bonds to form smaller organic molecules.
8
to reveal or disclose something suddenly or impulsively
- Despite his efforts to keep it a secret, he cracked and told his friends about the surprise party.
- She couldn't keep the exciting news to herself any longer and cracked during lunch.
- The witness cracked under pressure during cross-examination and revealed a crucial piece of evidence.
- The detective knew the suspect was withholding information, and eventually, he cracked and confessed to the crime.
- She tried to keep her feelings hidden, but eventually, she cracked and confessed her love for him.
9
to become overwhelmed by intense psychological pressure
- The soldier cracked under the constant threat of combat, experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks.
- The high-pressure environment at work caused her to crack, leading to frequent emotional outbursts.
- He had been holding it together for months, but eventually, the stress of his personal life caused him to crack.
- She tried to hide her struggles, but eventually, the weight of her responsibilities caused her to crack.
- The competitive nature of the sport caused many athletes to crack under the pressure.
10
to illegally access a computer system with harmful intent
transitive
- The hacker attempted to crack the company's network security to steal sensitive information.
- Cybercriminals use sophisticated tools to crack passwords and gain unauthorized access to online accounts.
- Hackers often target government agencies in attempts to crack classified databases.
- Criminal organizations employ skilled hackers to crack financial institutions' systems and steal funds.
- Sophisticated malware is designed to crack encryption and compromise users' personal data.