cracking

plural crackings

1. chemistryThe thermal decomposition of a substance, especially that of crude petroleum in order to produce petrol / gasoline.
2. The formation of cracks on a surface.
3. The production of a crack sound.

   the crackings of whips

1. That cracks; that produces a sharp sound as of something splitting or breaking.

   From the spot where the body lay came a fierce fizzing and cracking sound, which ceased, however, before the fumes had cleared away.

   1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC

2. colloquialGreat; excellent.

   Near-synonym: crackerjack

   2 more examples

   The race started at a cracking pace.

   That's a cracking example of what we've been looking for.

   Synonyms: crackerjack

3. colloquialEnjoyable.

   We had a cracking time.

   1 more example

   Near the back of the concourse is a piano, [...]. Explains Reeve: "It was donated by a lady who had written to me. My Duty Manager at the time had a qualification and so was able to restore it to full working order. I've heard some cracking tunes on it."

   2020 December 30, Richard Clinnick, “Greater Anglia strikes again...”, in Rail, page 43

1. UKnot comparableVery, usually associated with praise.

   It was a cracking good show.

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of crack