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Glite Dictionary
to hydrofrack

to hydrofrack

9.7
To get oil or gas from deep rock by forcing high-pressure water and chemicals into the rock to break it
  • verb
  • /ˈhaɪdroʊfræk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hidrofracturar
  • Many energy companies are now hydrofracking to access previously unreachable oil deposits.

Examples

  • By hydrofracking at greater depths, we can extract natural gas more efficiently than ever before.

  • That was achieved by horizontal drilling and hydrofracking the wells.

    Blog text (5)

  • The environmental impact of hydrofracking continues to spark debate among communities.

Synonyms

to frack
vsto hydrofrack
  • Specialized
11 7.8

To get oil or gas from underground rock by forcing high pressure water to make cracks

highlights use of water and chemicals instead of unspecified liquid
to frac
vsto hydrofrack
  • Jargon
1 9.3

To force liquid into rock at high pressure to release oil or gas

specifies use of water and chemicals rather than just fluid
to frack the land
vsto hydrofrack
  • Specialized
7.9

To get natural gas from under the ground by forcing water and chemicals into rocks

is broader covering extraction of oil or gas using water and chemicals

How Invasive

to hydrofrack
  • Specialized
9.7
to inject
150 4.4
to pump
178 2.0

Surface Forms

hydrofrack infinitive
hydrofracked past
hydrofracked past participle
hydrofracking present participle
hydrofracks third person singular

Morphology

hydrofrack = frack (semi-transparent) = hydro + frack

The meaning is fairly clear as 'hydro-' plus 'frack', but the base verb is technical slang rather than a fully transparent everyday word.

Etymology

The word hydrofrack joins hydro- meaning 'water' and frack from the word fracture, which means 'break'. So to hydrofrack is to use high-pressure water to 'break' underground rock and release oil or gas.