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crack·le

(krăkəl)

v. crack·led, crack·ling, crack·les

v.intr.

1. To make a succession of slight sharp snapping noises: a fire crackling in the wood stove.

2. To show liveliness, energy, or intensity: a book that crackles with humor.

3. To become covered with a network of fine cracks; craze.

v.tr.

1. To crush (paper, for example) with sharp snapping sounds.

2. To cause (china, for example) to become covered with a network of fine cracks.

1. The act or sound of crackling.

a. A network of fine cracks on the surface of glazed pottery, china, or glassware.

b. Crackleware.

[ Frequentative of CRACK.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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