1.  cracking(n = noun.event) crack, snap - a sudden sharp noise; "the crack of a whip"; "he heard the cracking of the ice"; "he can hear the snap of a twig"
is a kind of noise
Derived form verb crack₂

2.  cracking(n = noun.act) crack, fracture - the act of cracking something;
is a kind of break, breakage, breaking
Derived form verb crack₄

3.  cracking(n = noun.process) - the process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process);
is a kind of chemical action, chemical change, chemical process
has particulars: hydrocracking
Derived forms verb crack₁₃, verb crack₁₂

   cracking(s = adj.all) bang-up, bully, corking, dandy, great, groovy, keen, neat, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell - very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"

1.  the act of cracking something. [WordNet 1.5]

2.  the process of making lower molecular weight hydrocarbons from heavier hydrocarbons in petroleum, by exposure to heat and catalysts. It is used to convert heavier alkanes into gasoline, or to improve the octane number of an alkane mixture. [PJC]

   same as groovy, sense 1. [WordNet 1.5]

cracking, adj. & adv. sl.
--adj.
1 outstanding; very good (a cracking performance).
2 (attrib.) fast and exciting (a cracking speed).
--adv. outstandingly (a cracking good time).

N  calefaction, increase of temperature, heating, calefaction, tepefaction, torrefaction, melting, fusion, liquefaction, burning, ambustion, combustion, incension, accension, concremation, cremation, scorification, cautery, cauterization, ustulation, calcination, cracking, refining, incineration, cineration, carbonization, cupellation, ignition, inflammation, adustion, flagration, deflagration, conflagration, empyrosis, incendiarism, arson, auto dafe, boiling, coction, ebullition, estuation, elixation, decoction, ebullioscope, geyser, distillation (vaporization), furnace, blanket, flannel, fur, wadding, clothing, still, refinery, fractionating column, fractionating tower, cracking tower, match, incendiary, petroleuse, cauterizer, caustic, lunar caustic, alkali, apozem, moxa, acid, aqua fortis, aqua regia, catheretic, nitric acid, nitrochloro-hydric acid, nitromuriatic acid, radioactivity, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta rays, X-rays, radiation, cosmic radiation, background radiation, radioactive isotopes, tritium, uranium, plutonium, radon, radium, sunstroke, coup de soleil, insolation, pottery, ceramics, crockery, porcelain, china, earthenware, stoneware, pot, mug, terra cotta, brick, clinker, cinder, ash, scoriae, embers, soot, slag, coke, carbon, charcoal, wood alcohol, turpentine, tea tree oil, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, fuel oil (fuel), wax, paraffin, residue, tar, inflammability, combustibility, diathermancy, transcalency, conduction, convection, radiation, radiant heat, heat conductivity, conductivity, thermal expansion, coefficient of expansion, heated, molten, sodden, r_echauff_e, heating, adust, inflammable, combustible, diathermal, diathermanous, burnt, volcanic, radioactive.

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