Tra từ crack - Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

crack (krăk)v. cracked, crack·ing, cracksv. 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.
3.
a. To break with a sharp snapping sound. See Synonyms at break.
b. To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
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.
a. To break open or into:
crack a safe.
b. To open up for use or consumption:
crack a book; cracked a beer.
c. 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.
2.
a. A partial split or break; a fissure.
b. A slight narrow space:
The window was open a crack.
3. A sharp resounding blow.
4.
a. A mental or physical impairment; a defect.
b. 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.
2.
a. To damage or wreck (a vehicle or vessel):
crack up a plane; crack up a boat.
b. 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:crack the whip
To 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.]