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.
   get cracking to start doing something quickly or do something with increased speed

adverb

1. informal.
   first-class; excellent

   a cracking good match

noun

1. See catalytic cracker
   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

For free speech, but the cracking of skulls if it comes to it.

From The Daily Beast

That in turn would help prevent cracking, which often occurs when the exterior of a piece of wood dries out faster than the interior.

From Popular-Science

You have things like no sewer pipes and other things that are greasy and cracking.

From MIT Technology Review

One chiro I follow adjusts baby spines, slowly, carefully, with basically no audible cracking.

From Outside Online

The party that controls the maps can grab power through packing or cracking.

From Science News

The Communist Party of China gets a bad rap for cracking down on religion.

From The Daily Beast

Protestors say the president is cracking down on free speech.

From The Daily Beast

It was a street-sweep, and violence had broken out, and the government was cracking down.

From The Daily Beast

For a country forever cracking down on those perceived as veering from the sexual norm, being gay is finally starting to pay.

From The Daily Beast

The more accomplished students took classes in safe-cracking, burglary, blackmail, and confidence games.

From The Daily Beast

His foot caught; it is unknown in what,—in a twisted tie, or perhaps in a crevice of the cracking earth.

From Project Gutenberg

Along the shore they sped, speaking not a word till they had got the village in sight and their arms were cracking in the joints.

From Project Gutenberg

After waiting long, the hunters heard high above them a cracking, rushing sound; and suddenly they saw a great, hovering object.

From Project Gutenberg

"Up to sixteen thousand tons," Darrin replied, without cracking a smile.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither did his ears hear at first a low muffled cracking that had been going on for some time.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amazing
• astounding
• awesome
• colossal
• dreadful
• enormous
• excellent
• exceptional
• extraordinary
• fabulous
• fantastic
• formidable
• great
• immense
• incredible
• marvelous
• massive
• monumental
• prodigious
• terrible