1. to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured: The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.
2. to break with a sudden, sharp sound: The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.
3. to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap: The whip cracked.
4. (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, especially into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
5. to fail; give way: His confidence cracked under the strain.
6. to succumb or break down, especially under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like: They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.
7. to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
8. to brag; boast.
9. to chat; gossip.

10. to cause to make a sudden sharp sound: The driver cracked the whip.
11. to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.
12. to break with a sudden, sharp sound: to crack walnuts.
13. to strike and thereby make a sharp noise: The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.
14. to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.
15. to utter or tell: to crack jokes.
16. to cause to make a cracking sound: to crack one's knuckles.
17. to damage, weaken, etc.: The new evidence against him cracked his composure.
18. to make mentally unsound.
19. to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
20. to solve; decipher: to crack a murder case.
21. to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
22. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
23. to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).

24. a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.
25. a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
26. a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
27. the snap of or as of a whip.
28. a resounding blow: He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.
29. a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.
30. a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
31. opportunity; chance; try: Give him first crack at the new job.
32. a flaw or defect.
33. pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
34. check¹ (def. 44).
35. a mental defect or deficiency.
36. a shot, as with a rifle: At the first crack, the deer fell.
37. a moment; instant: He was on his feet again in a crack.
38. a burglary, especially an instance of housebreaking.
39. a person or thing that excels in some respect.
40. the vulva.
41. conversation; chat.
42. boasting; braggadocio.
43. a burglar.

44. first-rate; excellent: a crack shot.

45. with a cracking sound.

46. to take severe or stern measures, especially in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations: The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.
47. to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.
48. crack on, Nautical.
• (of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.
• (of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.
49. crack up, Informal.
• to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.
• to crash, as in an automobile or airplane: He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.
• to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.
• to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly: That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.

50. to open a book in order to study or read: He hardly ever cracked a book.
51. to smile.
52. to wisecrack: We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.
53. to be overlooked, missed, or neglected: In any inspection process some defective materials will fall through the cracks.
54. get cracking, Informal.
• to begin moving or working; start: Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes!
• to work or move more quickly.

1. to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts
2. to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap
3. to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound
4. to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
5. to fail or cause to fail
6. to yield or cause to yield
7. to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
8. to break into or force open
9. to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
10. to tell (a joke, etc)
11. to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
12. to open (esp a bottle) for drinking
13. to chat; gossip
14. to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it)
15. to find or catch
16. to break into a smile
17. to disguise one's discomfort, etc; put on a bold front
18. to assert one's authority, esp to put people under pressure to work harder

19. a sudden sharp noise
20. a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts
21. a narrow opening or fissure
22. a resounding blow
23. a physical or mental defect; flaw
24. a moment or specific instant
25. a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy's during puberty
26. an attempt; opportunity to try
27. a gibe; wisecrack; joke
28. a person that excels
29. a talk; chat
30. a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
31. fun; informal entertainment
32. a burglar or burglary
33. crack of dawn
• the very instant that the sun rises
• very early in the morning
34. a fair chance or opportunity
35. doomsday; the end of the world; the Day of Judgment

36. first-class; excellent

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