CRACKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does crackle mean? 

• CRACKLE (noun)
  The noun CRACKLE has 2 senses:

1. the sharp sound of snapping noises

2. glazed china with a network of fine cracks on the surface

  Familiarity information: CRACKLE used as a noun is rare.

• CRACKLE (adjective)
  The adjective CRACKLE has 1 sense:

1. having the surface decorated with a network of fine cracks, as in crackleware

  Familiarity information: CRACKLE used as an adjective is very rare.

• CRACKLE (verb)
  The verb CRACKLE has 3 senses:

1. make a crackling sound

2. make a crushing noise

3. to become, or to cause to become, covered with a network of small cracks

  Familiarity information: CRACKLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRACKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sharp sound of snapping noises

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

crackle; crackling; crepitation

Hypernyms ("crackle" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "crackle"):

decrepitation (the crackling or breaking up of certain crystals when they are heated)

Derivation:

crackle (make a crackling sound)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Glazed china with a network of fine cracks on the surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

crackle; crackle china; crackleware

Hypernyms ("crackle" is a kind of...):

china (high quality porcelain originally made only in China)

• CRACKLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the surface decorated with a network of fine cracks, as in crackleware

Context example:

a crackle glaze

Similar:

fancy (not plain; decorative or ornamented)

• CRACKLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they crackle    ... he / she / it crackles   
Past simple: crackled   
Past participle: crackled   
-ing form: crackling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a crackling sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

crackle; crepitate

Context example:

My Rice Krispies crackled in the bowl

Hypernyms (to "crackle" is one way to...):

rattle (make short successive sounds)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

crackle; crackling (the sharp sound of snapping noises)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a crushing noise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

crackle; crunch; scranch; scraunch

Context example:

his shoes were crunching on the gravel

Hypernyms (to "crackle" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "crackle"):

crump; scrunch; thud (make a noise typical of an engine lacking lubricants)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

To become, or to cause to become, covered with a network of small cracks

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The blazing sun crackled the desert sand

Hypernyms (to "crackle" is one way to...):

alter; change; vary (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
It is ----ing
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He raised a sightless face and listened intently as Negore's foot crackled a dead twig.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Yet, in spite of his shabby and even absurd appearance, his voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a quick intensity which commanded attention.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He wanted to glorify the leaders of forlorn hopes, the mad lovers, the giants that fought under stress and strain, amid terror and tragedy, making life crackle with the strength of their endeavor.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

His face was very red, and the folded blue paper which he carried in his hand shook and crackled in his excitement.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Already Alleyne could hear the crackling and roaring of the flames, while the air was heavy with heat and full of the pungent whiff of burning wood.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I fed it, shaving by shaving, and sliver by sliver, till at last it was snapping and crackling as it laid hold of the smaller chips and sticks.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But at the same time there was a suspicious crackling movement beside him, and his astonished eye saw a young spruce sapling bending down above him to strike him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He skirted the frowning shores on rim ice that bent and crackled under foot and upon which they dared not halt.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"If it gets over the hedge we're done," said Summerlee, and his voice crackled into a nervous laugh as he spoke.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)