n.
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 a : a loud roll or peal <a crack of thunder> b : a sudden sharp noise <the crack of rifle fire>
2 : a sharp witty remark : QUIP
3 a : a narrow break : FISSURE <a crack in the ice> b : a narrow opening <leave the door open a crack > < crack s between floorboards> ― used figuratively in phrases like fall through the cracks to describe one that has been improperly or inadvertently ignored or left out <a player who fell through the crack s in the college draft> <children slipping through the crack s of available youth services>
4 a : a weakness or flaw caused by decay, age, or deficiency : UNSOUNDNESS b : a broken tone of the voice c : CRACKPOT
5 : MOMENT , INSTANT <the crack of dawn>
6 : HOUSEBREAKING , BURGLARY
7 : a sharp resounding blow <gave him a crack on the head>
8 : an attempt or opportunity to do something <her first crack at writing a novel> <got first crack at the job opening>
9 : a potent form of cocaine that is obtained by treating the hydrochloride of cocaine with sodium bicarbonate to create small chips used illicitly for smoking ― called also crack cocaine