cracking

[ krak-ing ]

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. Compare catalytic cracking.

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.

cracking

/ ˈkrækɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal.
   prenominal fast; vigorous (esp in the phrase a cracking pace )
2. get cracking 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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cracking¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get cracking. crack ( def 54 ).

Example Sentences

It seems Blunt wasn’t the only one cracking jokes about Krasinski’s coronation.

From Los Angeles Times

Kevin Plumb, representing the league, said efforts to protect broadcast rights would continue by cracking down on illegal operators “no matter the scale”.

From BBC

“Texas is cracking down on doctors illegally prescribing dangerous ‘gender transition’ drugs to children,” Paxton said in a statement.

From Salon

In addition to commercials, Netflix has started streaming live events, cracking down on password-sharing and promoting games on its platform.

From Los Angeles Times

By 2026, the county will create an independent ethics commission, responsible for disciplining county officials found guilty of misconduct and cracking down on a “revolving door” from government posts to lobbying.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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