Meanings
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1
noun
a thin, dry, crisp biscuit, often eaten with cheese or a spread
She placed a slice of cheese on each cracker.
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2
noun
chiefly British: a decorated paper tube that makes a small bang when pulled apart and contains a joke, paper hat, or small gift
The Christmas cracker contained a paper crown and a terrible motto.
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3
noun
a small explosive firework that produces a sharp bang
A cracker exploded in the street just after midnight.
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4
noun
computing: a person who bypasses security or copy protection, especially for malicious or unauthorized purposes
The cracker exploited an unpatched flaw to enter the network.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from crack + -er, first for something or someone that cracks or makes a sharp sound. The firework and Christmas-cracker senses reflect that snap; the crisp biscuit was named for the sound or texture of breaking it. Computing adopted cracker for someone who breaks security or copy protection.