cracking

crack·ing  (krkng)

n.

Thermal decomposition, sometimes with catalysis, of a complex substance, especially the breaking of petroleum molecules into shorter molecules to extract low-boiling fractions such as gasoline.

adj.

Excellent; great: had a cracking time at the dance.

adv.

Used as an intensive: a cracking good show.

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cracking

Adjective

1. get cracking Informal to start doing something immediately

2. a cracking pace Informal a high speed

Adverb, adj

Brit informal first-class: five cracking good saves

Noun

the oil-refining process in which heavy oils are broken down into smaller molecules by heat or catalysis

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cracking  (krkng)

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.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cracking - a sudden sharp noise; "the crack of a whip"; "he heard the cracking of the ice"; "he can hear the snap of a twig" crack, snap noise - sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); "he enjoyed the street noises"; "they heard indistinct noises of people talking"; "during the firework display that ended the gala the noise reached 98 decibels"
	2.	cracking - the act of cracking something fracture, crack breaking, breakage, break - the act of breaking something; "the breakage was unavoidable"
	3.	cracking - the process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process) chemical action, chemical change, chemical process - (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved hydrocracking - the process whereby hydrocarbon molecules of petroleum are broken down into kerosene and gasolene by the addition of hydrogen under high pressure in the presence of a catalyst
Adj.	1.	cracking - very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing" bang-up, bully, corking, dandy, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell, groovy, keen, great, neat colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech good - having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"