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crack up - 3 dictionary results
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crack

  [krak]
Use crack up in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured: The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.
2. to break with a sudden, sharp sound: The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.
3. to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap: The whip cracked.
4. (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, esp. into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
5. to fail; give way: His confidence cracked under the strain.
6. to succumb or break down, esp. under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like: They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.
7. Chemistry. to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
8. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast.
9. Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip.
–verb (used with object)
10. to cause to make a sudden sharp sound: The driver cracked the whip.
11. to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.
12. to break with a sudden, sharp sound: to crack walnuts.
13. to strike and thereby make a sharp noise: The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.
14. to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.
15. to utter or tell: to crack jokes.
16. to cause to make a cracking sound: to crack one's knuckles.
17. to damage, weaken, etc.: The new evidence against him cracked his composure.
18. to make mentally unsound.
19. to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
20. to solve; decipher: to crack a murder case.
21. Informal. to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
22. Chemistry. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
23. Informal. to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).
–noun
24. a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.
25. a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
26. a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
27. the snap of or as of a whip.
28. a resounding blow: He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.
29. Informal. a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.
30. a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
31. Informal. opportunity; chance; try: Give him first crack at the new job.
32. a flaw or defect.
33. Also called rock. Slang. pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
34. Masonry. check 1 (def. 41).
35. a mental defect or deficiency.
36. a shot, as with a rifle: At the first crack, the deer fell.
37. a moment; instant: He was on his feet again in a crack.
38. Slang. a burglary, esp. an instance of housebreaking.
39. Chiefly British. a person or thing that excels in some respect.
40. Slang: Vulgar. the vulva.
41. Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.
42. British Dialect. boasting; braggadocio.
43. Archaic. a burglar.
–adjective
44. first-rate; excellent: a crack shot.
–adverb
45. with a cracking sound.
—Verb phrases
46. crack down, to take severe or stern measures, esp. in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations: The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.
47. crack off, to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.
48. crack on, Nautical.
a. (of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.
b. (of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.
49. crack up, Informal.
a. to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.
b. to crash, as in an automobile or airplane: He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.
c. to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.
d. to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly: That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.
—Idioms
50. crack a book, Informal. to open a book in order to study or read: He hardly ever cracked a book.
51. crack a smile, Informal. to smile.
52. crack wise, Slang. to wisecrack: We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.
53. fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, missed, or neglected: In any inspection process some defective materials will fall through the cracks. Also, slip between the cracks.
54. get cracking, Informal.
a. to begin moving or working; start: Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes!
b. to work or move more quickly.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME crak(k)en (v.), crak (n.), OE cracian to resound; akin to G krachen, D kraken (v.), and G Krach, D krak (n.)

Related forms:
crack⋅a⋅ble, adjective
crackless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To crack up
crack   (krāk)   
v.   cracked, crack·ing, cracks

v.   intr.
  1. To break or snap apart.
  2. To make a sharp snapping sound.
  3. To break without complete separation of parts; fissure: The mirror cracked.
  4. To change sharply in pitch or timbre, as from hoarseness or emotion. Used of the voice.
  5. To break down; fail: The defendant's composure finally began to crack.
  6. To have a mental or physical breakdown: cracked under the pressure.
  7. To move or go rapidly: was cracking along at 70 miles an hour.
  8. Chemistry To break into simpler molecules by means of heat.
v.   tr.
  1. To cause to make a sharp snapping sound.
  2. To cause to break without complete separation of parts: cracked the glass.
    1. To break with a sharp snapping sound. See Synonyms at break.
    2. To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
    3. To break open or into: crack a safe.
    4. To open up for use or consumption: crack a book; cracked a beer.
    5. To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgement: finally cracked the "men-only" rule at the club.
  4. To open to a slight extent: cracked the window to let in some air.
  5. To strike with a sudden sharp sound.
  6. Informal
    1. To break open or into: crack a safe.
    2. To open up for use or consumption: crack a book; cracked a beer.
    3. To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgement: finally cracked the "men-only" rule at the club.
  7. To discover the solution to, especially after considerable effort: crack a code.
  8. To cause (the voice) to crack.
  9. Informal To tell (a joke), especially on impulse or in an effective manner.
  10. To cause to have a mental or physical breakdown.
  11. To impair or destroy: Their rude remarks cracked his equanimity.
  12. To reduce (petroleum) to simpler compounds by cracking.
n.  
  1. A sharp snapping sound, such as the report of a firearm.
    1. A partial split or break; a fissure.
    2. A slight narrow space: The window was open a crack.
    3. A mental or physical impairment; a defect.
    4. A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
  3. A sharp resounding blow.
    1. A mental or physical impairment; a defect.
    2. A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
  5. An attempt or try: gave him a crack at the job; took a crack at photography.
  6. A witty or sarcastic remark. See Synonyms at joke.
  7. A moment; an instant: at the crack of dawn.
  8. Irish Fun; amusement.
  9. Slang Crack cocaine.
adj.  
Excelling in skill or achievement; first-rate: a crack shot; a crack tennis player.
Phrasal Verbs:
crack down
To act more forcefully to regulate, repress, or restrain: The police cracked down on speeding.
crack up Informal
  1. To praise highly: He was simply not the genius he was cracked up to be.
    1. To damage or wreck (a vehicle or vessel): crack up a plane; crack up a boat.
    2. To wreck a vehicle in an accident: cracked up on the expressway.
  3. To have a mental or physical breakdown: crack up from overwork.
  4. To experience or cause to experience a great deal of amusement: really cracked up when I heard that joke.
Phrasal Verb(s):
crack downTo act more forcefully to regulate, repress, or restrain: The police cracked down on speeding.
crack up Informal
  1. To praise highly: He was simply not the genius he was cracked up to be.
    1. To damage or wreck (a vehicle or vessel): crack up a plane; crack up a boat.
    2. To wreck a vehicle in an accident: cracked up on the expressway.
  3. To have a mental or physical breakdown: crack up from overwork.
  4. To experience or cause to experience a great deal of amusement: really cracked up when I heard that joke.

Idiom(s):
crack the whipTo behave in a domineering manner; demand hard work and efficiency from those under one's control.

[Middle English craken, from Old English cracian; see gerə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

crack up

  1. Suffer an emotional breakdown, become insane, as in He might crack up under the strain. This usage alludes to the result of cracking one's skull; from the early 1600s to crack alone was used in this way. [Slang; early 1900s]

  2. Damage or wreck a vehicle or vessel. For example, I'm always afraid that I'll crack up the car.

  3. Experience a crash, as in We cracked up on the freeway in the middle of the ice storm.

  4. Also, crack someone up. Burst or cause to burst out laughing, as in The audience cracked up, or That joke really cracked me up. [Slang; c. 1940] Also see break up, def. 6. All of these expressions derive from crack in the sense of "break into pieces" or "collapse," a usage dating from the late 1600s. Also see cracked up.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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