crack

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A line on a surface where something has broken but not separated.

   There was a crack in the mirror.

2. 2
   noun

   A narrow opening or gap.

   I opened the window a crack to let the smoke escape.

3. 3
   noun

   A sudden sharp noise.

   We heard the crack of a whip in the distance.

4. 4
   verb

   To break so that a line or split appears, without falling apart.

   The screen cracked when I dropped my phone.

5. 5
   noun

   A quick attempt at doing something.

   Let me have a crack at fixing the computer.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂- Proto-Indo-European *gerg-der. Proto-Germanic *krakōną Proto-West Germanic *krakōn Old English cracian Middle English crakken English crack From Middle English crakken, craken, from Old English cracian (“to resound, crack”), from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn, from Proto-Germanic *krakōną (“to crack, crackle, shriek”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gerh₂- (“to resound, cry hoarsely”). Cognate with Scots crak (“to crack”), West Frisian kreakje (“to crack”), Dutch kraken (“to crunch, creak, squeak”), Low German kraken (“to crack”), German krachen (…

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