Word
crackle
Phoneticscrack·le, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹækəɫ/
UK/kɹˈækəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a sharp, short sound like a tiny explosion. You often hear it when you walk on dry leaves or when you open a bag of chips.
n. a sharp, staccato sound produced by the sudden release of energy, such as the breaking of brittle material or the discharge of static electricity.
Examples
“The dry leaves made a loud crackle under my boots.”
“The fire in the hearth provided a constant crackle that made the room feel warm and inviting.”
“The static discharge created a distinct crackle in the speaker, momentarily disrupting the otherwise clear transmission of the emergency broadcast.”
Examples
simple
“The dry leaves made a loud crackle under my boots.”
contextual
“The fire in the hearth provided a constant crackle that made the room feel warm and inviting.”
complex
“The static discharge created a distinct crackle in the speaker, momentarily disrupting the otherwise clear transmission of the emergency broadcast.”
Real-World Examples
“In the place on the dial where my grandfather used to hear the words "The time in London is … " there is only a hoarse hiss and crackle.” “Hands almost touch; cartoon lightning crackles between them.” “I could hear crackles as the spoon scraped the socarrat from the bottom.” Etymology
From Middle English crakelen, equivalent to crack + -le (frequentative suffix). The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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