Adjacent Words

Crank definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CRANK, n. [This word probably belongs to the root of cringe, krinkle, to bend.]
1. Literally, a bend or turn. Hence, an iron axis with the end bent like an elbow, for moving a piston, the saw in a saw-mill, etc., and causing it to rise and fall at every turn.
2. Any bend, turn or winding.
3. A twisting or turning is speech; a conceit which consists in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles.
4. An iron brace for various purposes.
CRANK, a. [g., to careen a ship.]
1. In seamens language, liable to be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast to carry full sail.
2. Stout; bold; erect; as a cock crowing crank.
CRANK, CRANKLE, v.i. [See Crank, n., and Crinkle.] To run in a winding course; to bend, wind and turn.
See how this river comes me crankling in.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail [syn: crank, cranky, tender, tippy] n
1: a bad-tempered person [syn: grouch, grump, crank, churl, crosspatch]
2: a whimsically eccentric person [syn: crackpot, crank, nut, nut case, fruitcake, screwball]
3: an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant [syn: methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, Methedrine, meth, deoxyephedrine, chalk, chicken feed, crank, glass, ice, shabu, trash]
4: a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle [syn: crank, starter] v
1: travel along a zigzag path; "The river zigzags through the countryside" [syn: zigzag, crank]
2: start by cranking; "crank up the engine" [syn: crank, crank up]
3: rotate with a crank [syn: crank, crank up]
4: fasten with a crank
5: bend into the shape of a crank

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick — more at cringe Date: 13th century 1. a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa 2. a. archaic bend b. a twist or turn of speech ; conceit — used especially in the phrase quips and cranks c. (1) caprice, crotchet (2) an annoyingly eccentric person; also one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity d. a bad-tempered person ; grouch 3. crystal 7 • crankish adjective II. verb Date: 1592 intransitive verb 1. to move with a winding course ; zigzag 2. a. to turn a crank b. to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank c. to gain speed, momentum, or intensity — usually used with up <the campaign is cranking up> transitive verb 1. to move or operate by or as if by a crank <crank the window down> 2. a. to cause to start (as an automobile) b. to rotate the shaft (as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter <crank over an engine> c. to use in trying to start an engine <crank the starter> 3. a. to start as if by use of a crank — usually used with up <she cranked up the air conditioner> b. turn up 2 — usually used with up <crank up the volume> <crank up the stereo> III. adjective Date: 1924 of, relating to, or being a cranky or eccentric person; also made or sent by such a person <crank calls> <a crank letter> IV. adjective Etymology: Middle English cranke Date: 15th century 1. chiefly dialect merry, high-spirited 2. chiefly dialect cocky, confident V. adjective Etymology: short for crank-sided easily tipped Date: circa 1649 of a boat easily tipped ; tender 7d

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 part of an axle or shaft bent at right angles for interconverting reciprocal and circular motion. 2 an elbow-shaped connection in bell-hanging. --v.tr. 1 cause to move by means of a crank. 2 a bend into a crank-shape. b furnish or fasten with a crank. Phrases and idioms: crank up 1 start (a car engine) by turning a crank. 2 sl. increase (speed etc.) by intensive effort. Etymology: OE cranc, app. f. crincan, rel. to cringan fall in battle, orig. 'curl up' 2. n. 1 a an eccentric person, esp. one obsessed by a particular theory (health-food crank). b US a bad-tempered person. 2 literary a fanciful turn of speech (quips and cranks). Etymology: back-form. f. CRANKY 3. adj. Naut. liable to capsize. Etymology: perh. f. crank weak, shaky, or CRANK(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crank Crank (kr?nk), n. [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, ``to turn, twist.'' See Cringe.] 1. (Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank. 2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks. --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crank Crank (kr?nk), a. [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf. D. krengen to careen). Cf. Crank, n.] 1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.] 2. (Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail. 3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty. --Udall. If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it. --Mrs. Stowe.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crank Crank, v. i. [See Crank, n.] To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. See how this river comes me cranking in. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(cranks, cranking, cranked) 1. If you call someone a crank, you think their ideas or behaviour are strange. (INFORMAL) The Prime Minister called Councillor Marshall 'a crank'... N-COUNT [disapproval] 2. A crank is a device that you turn in order to make something move. N-COUNT 3. If you crank an engine or machine, you make it move or function, especially by turning a handle. The chauffeur got out to crank the motor. VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Turning-handle. 2. Bend, turn, winding, involution, twist, quirk. 3. Twist or turn of speech, play upon words, quirk. II. a. 1. Easy to be overset, unsteady. 2. Shaky, crazy, loose, disjointed. III. v. n. Bend, wind, turn, twist, wind in and out, crankle, crinkle.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

Gin and water; also, brisk, pert.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

The falling sickness. Cant.

Moby Thesaurus

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