fracking1
/ˈfrakɪŋ
/noun [mass noun]
The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc. so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas: fracking has created a shale gas boom in the United States...Also called hydraulic fracturing.
- This whole concept of fracking is all new for New York State.
- Then comes a week or so of "fracking," the hydraulic fracturing process that breaks through the dense, black rock and unlocks the natural gas within.
- But when the infrastructure for pumping natural gas out of the Catskills has finally been put in place, there will be no mistaking its impact, no missing the gaping holes in the forest canopy, the artificial ponds full of "fracking" fluid, the industrial damage done.
Origin
1950s: representing an abbreviated form of fracturing.
fracking2
/ˈfrakɪŋ/(also frakking)
adjective & adverb US informal
Used for emphasis or to express annoyance, frustration, impatience, or surprise: are you out of your fracking mind?...
- Excuse the length of this (have just spent several hours debugging kid's fracking Windows computer which the little gaming monster just about choked).
- Surely that's about the same as reducing the speed limit to almost the same speed as if you were fracking walking!
- I don't know a lot of things about it, so I have absolute no fracking idea how I'm going to deal with it.
Origin
1970s: euphemism for fucking, from frack2.