cracking
/ˈkɹækɪŋ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.92 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The thermal decomposition of a substance, especially that of crude petroleum in order to produce petrol / gasoline.
noun
The production of a crack sound.
Example Sentences
- "the crackings of whips"
- "From the spot where the body lay came a fierce fizzing and cracking sound, which ceased, however, before the fumes had cleared away."
- "Near-synonym: crackerjack"
- "The race started at a cracking pace."
- "That's a cracking example of what we've been looking for."
- "We had a cracking time."
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English crakynge.
Usage
- Colloquial
- British usage