A sudden sharp noise:
— He heard the cracking of the ice.

synonyms: crack, snap.

Roget 384: increase of temperature; heating etc. v.; calefaction^†, tepefaction^†, torrefaction^†; melting, fusion; liquefaction etc. 335; burning etc. v.; ambustion^†, combustion; incension^†, accension^†; concremation^†, cremation; scorification^†; cautery, cauterization; ustulation^†, calcination; cracking, refining; incineration, cineration^†; carbonization; cupellation [Chem].    ignition, inflammation, adustion^†, flagration^†; deflagration, conflagration; empyrosis^†, incendiarism; arson; auto dafe [Fr.].    boiling etc. v.; coction^†, ebullition, estuation^†, elixation^†, decoction; ebullioscope^†; geyser; distillation (vaporization) 336.    furnace etc. 386; blanket, flannel, fur; wadding etc. (lining) 224; clothing etc. 225.    still; refinery; fractionating column, fractionating tower, cracking tower.    match etc. (fuel) 388; incendiary; petroleuse [Fr.]; [biological effects resembling the effects of heat] [substances causing a burning sensation and damage on skin or tissue] cauterizer^†; caustic, lunar caustic, alkali, apozem^†, moxa^†; acid, aqua fortis [Lat.], aqua regia; catheretic^†, nitric acid, nitrochloro-hydric acid, nitromuriatic acid; radioactivity, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta rays, X-rays, radiation, cosmic radiation, background radiation, radioactive isotopes, tritium, uranium, plutonium, radon, radium.    sunstroke, coup de soleil [Fr.]; insolation.    [artifacts requiring heat in their manufacture] pottery, ceramics, crockery, porcelain, china; earthenware, stoneware; pot, mug, terra cotta [Sp.], brick, clinker.    [products of combustion] cinder, ash, scoriae, embers, soot; slag.    [products of heating organic materials] coke, carbon, charcoal; wood alcohol, turpentine, tea tree oil; gasoline, kerosene, naptha, fuel oil (fuel) 388; wax, paraffin; residue, tar.    inflammability, combustibility.    [Transmission of heat] diathermancy^†, transcalency^†, conduction; convection; radiation, radiant heat; heat conductivity, conductivity.    [effects of heat 2] thermal expansion; coefficient of expansion.    ... show more

The act of cracking something.

synonyms: crack, fracture.

The process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process).

Polish: kraking, krakowanie

Very good.

synonyms: bang-up, bully, corking, dandy, great, groovy, keen, neat, nifty, not bad, old, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell ... show more.

Polish: potężny, majestatyczny