crack·ing

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cracking

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

crack•ing

n.

1. (in the distillation of petroleum) the process of breaking down complex hydrocarbons into simpler compounds with lower boiling points, as gasoline. Compare catalytic cracking.

2. extremely; unusually: a cracking good race.

3. done with precision; smart: a cracking salute.

[1250–1300]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

cracking

The process used in the petroleum industry to convert large-chain hydrocarbon molecules to smaller ones. The process uses heat and catalysts.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Noun	1.	cracking - a sudden sharp noise; "the crack of a whip"; "he heard the cracking of the ice"; "he can hear the snap of a twig" crack, snap noise - sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); "he enjoyed the street noises"; "they heard indistinct noises of people talking"; "during the firework display that ended the gala the noise reached 98 decibels"
	2.	cracking - the act of cracking something fracture, crack breaking, breakage, break - the act of breaking something; "the breakage was unavoidable"
	3.	cracking - the process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process) chemical action, chemical change, chemical process - (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved hydrocracking - the process whereby hydrocarbon molecules of petroleum are broken down into kerosene and gasolene by the addition of hydrogen under high pressure in the presence of a catalyst
Adj.	1.	cracking - very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing" bang-up, bully, corking, dandy, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell, groovy, keen, great, neat colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech good - having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.