crack (krăk)

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[Middle English craken, from Old English cracian.]

verb: cracked, crack·ing, cracks. 

intransitive verb 

1. To break or snap apart.
2. To make a sharp snapping sound.
3. To break without complete separation of parts; fissure: The mirror cracked.
4. To change sharply in pitch or timbre, as from hoarseness or emotion. Used of the voice.
5. To break down; fail: The defendant's composure finally began to crack.
6. To have a mental or physical breakdown: cracked under the pressure.
7. To move or go rapidly: was cracking along at 70 miles an hour.
8. Chemistry To break into simpler molecules by means of heat.

transitive verb 

1. To cause to make a sharp snapping sound.
2. To cause to break without complete separation of parts: cracked the glass.
3. 1. To break with a sharp snapping sound. See synonyms at break
   2. To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
4. To open to a slight extent: cracked the window to let in some air.
5. To strike with a sudden sharp sound.
6. Informal
   1. To break open or into: crack a safe.
   2. To open up for use or consumption: crack a book; cracked a beer.
   3. To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgement: finally cracked the “men-only” rule at the club.
7. To discover the solution to, especially after considerable effort: crack a code.
8. To cause (the voice) to crack.
9. Informal To tell (a joke), especially on impulse or in an effective manner.
10. To cause to have a mental or physical breakdown.
11. To impair or destroy: Their rude remarks cracked his equanimity.
12. To reduce (petroleum) to simpler compounds by cracking.

noun 

1. A sharp snapping sound, such as the report of a firearm.
2. 1. A partial split or break; a fissure.
   2. A slight narrow space: The window was open a crack.
3. A sharp resounding blow.
4. 1. A mental or physical impairment; a defect.
   2. A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
5. An attempt or try: gave him a crack at the job; took a crack at photography.
6. A witty or sarcastic remark. See synonyms at joke
7. A moment; an instant: at the crack of dawn.
8. Irish Fun; amusement.
9. Slang Crack cocaine.

adjective 

Excelling in skill or achievement; first-rate: a crack shot; a crack tennis player.

phrasal verbs

crack down

To act more forcefully to regulate, repress, or restrain: The police cracked down on speeding.

crack up

To praise highly: He was simply not the genius he was cracked up to be.

To damage or wreck (a vehicle or vessel): crack up a plane; crack up a boat. To wreck a vehicle in an accident: cracked up on the expressway.

To have a mental or physical breakdown: crack up from overwork.

To experience or cause to experience a great deal of amusement: really cracked up when I heard that joke.

idioms

crack the whip

To behave in a domineering manner; demand hard work and efficiency from those under one's control.