This is the 8669th most frequent German word.
krachen
"To crash, crack, or collide noisily."
Here, 'krachte' signifies a sound or action of a sudden, loud crash as the tree falls.
Der Baum krachte im Sturm zu Boden.
The tree crashed to the ground during the storm.
In this context, 'krachte' describes the noise made when the plates shattered.
Es krachte laut, als die Teller zerbrachen.
There was a loud crash when the plates broke.
Here, 'krachte' metaphorically indicates a 'clash' or serious disagreement between the parties.