noun
Common
cracking
KRA-kihng
Cracking (noun) means the industrial process of breaking down large molecules, such as crude oil, using heat, to produce fuels like gasoline. Example: “Catalytic cracking breaks heavy oil into lighter, more useful products at the plant.”
noun
1
The industrial process of breaking down large molecules, such as crude oil, using heat, to produce fuels like gasoline.
"Catalytic cracking breaks heavy oil into lighter, more useful products at the plant."
"Engineers studied how temperature affects cracking in the refinery's tall reactor towers."
"The refinery uses cracking to turn crude oil into usable fuel."
adjective
1
British informal: excellent or great.
"We had a cracking weekend by the sea, despite the drizzle."
"That's a cracking idea, so let's book the tickets today!"
"That was a cracking performance from the whole team."
adverb
1
British informal: very, used for emphasis with praise.
"The band played a cracking good set to a delighted crowd."
"He made a cracking fine curry for all of us."
"She did a cracking good job on the presentation."
How to use cracking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe industrial fuel-refining process, or, in British slang, "excellent" or "very."
UK vs US
The "excellent" sense is chiefly British and rarely used this way in American English.
Common pairings
cracking performance
oil cracking
get cracking
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cracking.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- crackings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Catalytic _____ breaks heavy oil into lighter, more useful products at the plant.
Etymology
This word was inherited from Middle English crakynge.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cracking
hacking
backing
lacking
jacking
sacking
racking
blacking
clacking
tracking
quacking
smacking
whacking
See all rhymes for cracking →
Frequently asked questions
What does “cracking” mean?
The word “cracking” means the industrial process of breaking down large molecules, such as crude oil, using heat, to produce fuels like gasoline. In plain terms, the industrial fuel-refining process, or, in British slang, "excellent" or "very.".
How do you pronounce “cracking”?
“Cracking” is pronounced KRA-kihng (/ˈkɹækɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cracking” in a sentence?
Here is “cracking” used in a sentence: “The refinery uses cracking to turn crude oil into usable fuel.”
What part of speech is “cracking”?
Depending on how it is used, “cracking” can be a noun, an adjective and an adverb.
Is “cracking” a common word?
“Cracking” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cracking” have?
“Cracking” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the industrial process of breaking down large molecules, such as crude oil, using heat, to produce fuels like gasoline.
What is the difference between 'cracking' and 'smashing'?
Both are British informal words of praise meaning excellent or great, and they are largely interchangeable. Cracking can additionally intensify another adjective, as in 'a cracking good time.'
Is 'cracking' used to mean 'great' in American English?
The 'excellent' and 'very' senses of cracking are chiefly British and are far less common in American English. American speakers are more likely to use words like 'great' or 'terrific.'
