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cracking
[krak-ing]
noun
(in the distillation of petroleum or the like) the process of breaking down certain hydrocarbons into simpler ones of lower boiling points by means of excess heat, distillation under pressure, etc., in order to give a greater yield of low-boiling products than could be obtained by simple distillation.
adverb
extremely; unusually.
We saw a cracking good match at the stadium.
adjective
done with precision; smart.
A cracking salute from the honor guard.
cracking
/ ˈæɪŋ /
adjective
informal(prenominal) fast; vigorous (esp in the phrase a cracking pace )
informalto start doing something quickly or do something with increased speed
adverb
informalfirst-class; excellent
a cracking good match
noun
the process in which molecules are cracked, esp the oil-refining process in which heavy oils are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight by heat or catalysis See also catalytic cracker
cracking
The process of breaking down complex chemical compounds by heating them. Sometimes a catalyst is added to lower the amount of heat needed for the reaction. Cracking is used especially for breaking petroleum molecules into shorter molecules and to extract low-boiling fractions, such as gasoline, from petroleum.
See also hydrocracking
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
They are cracking down, arresting, torturing and killing national aid workers and human rights activists.
The Nigerian government responded by brutally cracking down on the protesters.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” he wrote, blaming Democratic politicians for not cracking down earlier.
Passenger confusion has prompted the European Union's largest consumer group to push for fairer and more consistent hand luggage rules, and caused one government to start cracking down on airlines over bag charges.
It has said it is cracking down on illegal migration, setting out its plans in a White Paper to tighten work visas and those overstaying.
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Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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