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crack

Transitive VerbIntransitive Verb[C/U] Both
pl: crackspast: crackedpp: crackeding: cracking

The word evokes a sense of sudden failure or rupture. It carries a sharp, percussive energy, whether it is the physical sound of a snap or the mental collapse of a person. There is an inherent feeling of fragility and the moment of transition from wholeness to brokenness. In a professional or intellectual context, it shifts toward the idea of penetration. To crack a code or a case suggests breaking through a barrier of secrecy to reveal the truth, turning the concept of breaking into a positive achievement of discovery.

Countable when referring to a physical fissure in a wall. Uncountable when referring to the act of breaking or the state of being fractured.

Meanings

Noun

A narrow opening or fissure in a hard surface.

"a crack in the windshield"

Noun

A sudden, sharp noise.

"the crack of a whip"

Noun

A small gap in time or space.

"a crack in the schedule"

Transitive Verb
[something]

To break something without completely separating it.

"crack the egg into the bowl"

Transitive Verb
[something]

To solve a difficult problem or code.

"crack the secret cipher"

Intransitive Verb
[someone]

To lose emotional control under pressure.

"he finally cracked during the interrogation"

Last Updated: May 27, 2026Report an Error