cracking

Inherited from Middle English crakynge.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹækɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ækɪŋ

cracking (plural crackings)

1. (organic chemistry, petrochemistry) The thermal decomposition of a substance, especially that of crude petroleum in order to produce petrol / gasoline.
2. The formation of cracks on a surface.
3. The production of a crack sound.

   the crackings of whips

cracking

1. That cracks; that produces a sharp sound as of something splitting or breaking.
   • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

     From the spot where the body lay came a fierce fizzing and cracking sound, which ceased, however, before the fumes had cleared away.

2. (colloquial) Great; excellent.

   Near-synonym: crackerjack

   The race started at a cracking pace.

   That's a cracking example of what we've been looking for.

3. (colloquial) Enjoyable.

   We had a cracking time.

   • 2020 December 30, Richard Clinnick, “Greater Anglia strikes again...”, in Rail, page 43:

     Near the back of the concourse is a piano, [...]. Explains Reeve: "It was donated by a lady who had written to me. My Duty Manager at the time had a qualification and so was able to restore it to full working order. I've heard some cracking tunes on it."

cracking (not comparable)

1. (British) Very, usually associated with praise.

   It was a cracking good show.

cracking

1. present participle and gerund of crack

• get cracking