crack

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a sudden, loud, and short noise.

n. a sudden, sharp, and explosive acoustic effect.

“The loud crack of thunder made everyone jump.”

“The silence of the woods was shattered by the sharp crack of a dry branch snapping underfoot.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a try or an attempt at doing something.

n. an attempt or try at a particular activity, often used with the verb 'have' or 'take'.

“I've never played this game before, but I'll have a crack at it.”

“Despite her lack of experience in marketing, she decided to take a crack at designing the new campaign herself.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun British English · Dialect

n. fun, entertainment, or good conversation with friends.

n. social interaction characterized by fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation.

“We went to the pub for the music and the great crack.”

“The evening was full of good crack, with stories and laughter lasting well into the night.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to break something just enough that thin lines appear on the surface.

v. to cause a fissure to appear in a solid object without complete separation of the parts.

“The heat caused the old stone walls to crack.”

“If you pour boiling water into a cold glass, the sudden temperature change will likely crack it.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to find the answer to a very difficult problem or code.

v. to find a solution to a complex problem or to decipher a code or security system.

“It took the team three weeks to crack the secret code.”

“Detectives finally managed to crack the case after a new witness came forward with crucial information.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to lose control or give up because of too much stress or questioning.

v. to suffer a mental or physical breakdown, or to yield under intense psychological pressure or interrogation.

“The suspect started to crack after hours of questioning by the police.”

“Under the immense pressure of the championship final, the young athlete finally began to crack.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to say something funny or tell a joke.

v. to utter a witty or humorous remark, typically used with 'joke' or 'smile'.

“He is always cracking jokes to make people feel better.”

“Even in the middle of a crisis, she managed to crack a smile and keep the team's spirits up.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to open a door or window just a little bit.

v. to open a door, window, or lid a small amount.

“Could you crack the window a bit to let some fresh air in?”

“He cracked the door open just enough to peer into the hallway without being seen.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. describing a person or team that is the best and very well trained.

adj. possessing great skill, agility, or excellence; typically used to describe elite military or professional units.

“The government sent in a crack team of experts to handle the emergency.”

“A crack squad of paratroopers was deployed to secure the airfield before the main force arrived.”