Crackable is a word that can be spelled with the /k/ sound at the beginning or with the /kr/ sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /ˈkrækəbəl/. The first syllable is pronounced with a hard /k/ sound, followed by the vowel sound /æ/. The second syllable begins with the consonant cluster /kr/ and contains the vowel sound /ə/. The final syllable ends with the voiced consonant sound /b/ and the unstressed vowel sound /əl/. This word means that something can be broken or opened easily.
Crackable is an adjective that refers to something that can be cracked, broken, or deciphered. The term is commonly used in the context of security and cryptography to describe the vulnerability or ease with which a code, password, encryption, or security system can be compromised.
In the field of computer security, a crackable system or software is one that possesses weaknesses or flaws that can be exploited by hackers or individuals attempting to gain unauthorized access. This may involve finding patterns, loopholes, or vulnerabilities within the system that allow for the bypassing or deciphering of its encryption or protection mechanisms.
Similarly, in the realm of cryptography, crackable refers to the susceptibility of a code or cipher to be decrypted or broken. It implies that given enough time, resources, computational power, or knowledge, an attacker can decipher the encrypted information hidden within the code.
Outside the realm of security, crackable can also be used more broadly to refer to anything that can be easily broken, tampered with, or solved. For instance, a brittle material that can easily be shattered or a riddle or puzzle that is easily dissected or solved may both be described as crackable.
Overall, crackable denotes the potential or likelihood of something being broken or compromised, either through intentional efforts or inherent vulnerabilities.
The word crackable is formed by adding the suffix -able to the base word crack.
The base word crack comes from Middle English crakken which originally meant to make a sharp sound or to boast in Old English. Over time, the meaning evolved to include to break or split with a sudden sharp sound or to decipher or solve a code, puzzle, or problem.
The suffix -able is derived from Old French and Latin, and it is used to form adjectives meaning able to be or capable of. In the case of crackable, it means able to be cracked or capable of being broken, deciphered, or solved.