noun
crackle
KRA-kuhl
noun
1
A series of small, sharp popping or snapping sounds.
"The crackle of the campfire was the only sound in the night."
verb
1
To make a series of small popping or snapping sounds.
"The bacon crackled in the pan."
"Static crackled over the old radio."
2
To be full of tension, energy, or emotion.
"The room crackled with excitement before the announcement."
How to Use Crackle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA series of small popping sounds, or figuratively, a feeling of tension or energy in the air.
Common pairings
crackle of the fire
crackle with tension
static crackle
Word Forms
crackled past tense, crackles plural, crackles singular
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The _____ of the campfire was the only sound in the night.
Etymology
From "crack" plus the frequentative suffix -le, suggesting a repeated series of small cracking sounds.