noun

crack

fissure, sharp noise, attempt, joke

There's a crack in the window.

There's a crack in the window.

I heard a loud crack of thunder.

I heard a loud crack of thunder.

Let's have a crack at this puzzle.

Let's have a crack at this puzzle.

((a)) crack ((in sth.)) a line on a surface where it has broken There's a crack in the window.

((a)) crack ((of sth.)) a sudden sharp noise I heard a loud crack of thunder.

((to have a)) crack ((at sth.)) an attempt to do something Let's have a crack at this puzzle.

Synonyms: fissure, split; bang, snap; attempt, try

From the Old English verb *cracian*, 'to make a sharp noise'. The sense of 'fissure' comes from the sound made when something breaks.

Think of the sound a whip makes: a 'crack!'. This sound connects to a physical break (a crack in a wall) and a quick action (having a crack at something).

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.