Skip to content

crackle

noun

  1. fifth derivative of the displacement; fourth derivative of velocity
L298539 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. make crackling noises
L331291 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈkɹækəl/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English crakelen, equivalent to crack + -le (frequentative suffix). The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.

  1. A prolonged, frequent cracking sound; a fizzing, popping sound.

    I heard a crackle from the frying pan as I was frying bacon.

    There was an annoying crackle during the phone call, due to poor connection.

  2. A style of glaze giving the impression of many small cracks.

    The Chinese attach great value to their crackle, which, though it looks like damaged glaze, is produced by art; […].

  3. The fifth derivative of the position vector with respect to time (after velocity, acceleration, jerk, and jounce), i.e. the rate of change of jounce.
  4. Synonym of crackling (“crispy rind of roast pork”).

    By the look on my face I must have anticipated the joy of the crackle, apparently having come to look forward to the roast pig that appeared only at gatherings such as this. I bet I asked for another piece once I was done.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English crakelen, equivalent to crack + -le (frequentative suffix). The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.

  1. To make a prolonged, frequent cracking sound which sounds like fizzing or popping.

    a crackling fire

    the unknown ice that crackles underneath them

  2. To be full of tension or emotion.

    The last scenes of the film crackle with repressed sexual energy.