crazing

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   A network of fine cracks on a surface such as glaze, plastic or paint, often caused by stress or age.

   Grammar: Normally uncountable: the crazing on the bowl, not 'a crazing'.

   Patterns

   • crazing on something
   • crazing of something

   The old plate had visible crazing across its glaze.

   Sunlight can cause crazing in cheap plastic windows.

   Painters feared crazing when the paint dried too fast.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical

   Present participle of craze: forming fine cracks all over a surface.

   Grammar: Often passive or with no object: the glaze is crazing.

   Patterns

   • be crazing

   The glaze is crazing after repeated heating.

   Cold water was crazing the hot glass.

Word forms

Common combinations

crazing in the glaze

The potter noticed crazing in the glaze after firing.

fine crazing

Fine crazing covered the antique vase.

prevent crazing

A thicker coat helps prevent crazing.

crazing of paint

Humidity caused crazing of paint on the old wall.

surface crazing

Surface crazing makes the ice-cream container look old.

Synonyms and how they differ

cracking

Cracking is the general word for splitting, whereas crazing means a delicate web of tiny cracks.

crackle

Crackle describes a decorative cracked glaze on purpose, while crazing is usually an unwanted fault.

fissuring

Fissuring suggests deeper, larger splits than the thin surface lines of crazing.

Opposites

Word family

craze verb

to make fine cracks, or to drive someone mad in older use

crazed adjective

covered with fine cracks, or mad

craze noun

a short-lived fashion

Commonly confused: crazing or crazy?

Practice

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