crane

¹

[ kreyn ]

noun

1. any large wading bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by long legs, bill, and neck and an elevated hind toe.
2. (not used scientifically) any of various similar birds of other families, as the great blue heron.
3. Machinery. a device for lifting and moving heavy weights in suspension.
4. any of various similar devices, as a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace, used for suspending pots over the fire.
5. Movies, Television. a vehicle having a long boom on which a camera can be mounted for taking shots from high angles.
6. Nautical. any of a number of supports for a boat or spare spar on the deck or at the side of a vessel.
7. Crane, Astronomy. the constellation Grus.

verb (used with object)

, craned, cran·ing.

1. to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane.
2. to stretch (the neck) as a crane does.

verb (used without object)

, craned, cran·ing.

1. to stretch out one's neck, especially to see better.
2. to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc.

Crane

²

[ kreyn ]

noun

1. (Harold) Hart, 1899–1932, U.S. poet.
2. Stephen, 1871–1900, U.S. novelist, poet, and short-story writer.

crane

¹

/ kreɪn /

noun

1. See demoiselle, whooping crane
   any large long-necked long-legged wading bird of the family Gruidae, inhabiting marshes and plains in most parts of the world except South America, New Zealand, and Indonesia: order Gruiformes See also demoiselle whooping crane
2. not in ornithological use any similar bird, such as a heron
3. See gantry
   a device for lifting and moving heavy objects, typically consisting of a moving boom, beam, or gantry from which lifting gear is suspended See also gantry
4. films a large trolley carrying a boom, on the end of which is mounted a camera

verb

1. tr to lift or move (an object) by or as if by a crane
2. to stretch out (esp the neck), as to see over other people's heads
3. intr (of a horse) to pull up short before a jump

Crane

²

/ kreɪn /

noun

1. Crane(Harold) Hart18991932MUSWRITING: poet ( Harold ) Hart. 1899–1932, US poet; author of The Bridge (1930)
2. CraneStephen18711900MUSWRITING: novelistWRITING: short-story writer Stephen. 1871–1900, US novelist and short-story writer, noted particularly for his novel The Red Badge of Courage (1895)
3. CraneWalter18451915MBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: painterARTS AND CRAFTS: illustrator of children's booksARTS AND CRAFTS: textile designerARTS AND CRAFTS: wallpaper designer Walter. 1845–1915, British painter, illustrator of children's books, and designer of textiles and wallpaper

Word History and Origins

Origin of crane¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English cran; cognate with German Kran, Greek géranos

Word History and Origins

Origin of crane¹

Old English cran; related to Middle High German krane, Latin grūs, Greek géranos

Example Sentences

Finally, the craft used rocket thrusters to slow down further and then a system known as a sky crane to lower the rover the final distance to the surface.

From Washington Post

The landing came at the end of a cruise through interplanetary space and a dive through the Martian atmosphere, as the rover and its rocket-supported crane shed parachutes, a heat shield, and a lot of speed.

From Ars Technica

As I stood in the middle of piles of paper cranes, stuffed animals and bibles, I knew I wouldn’t soon forget that scene.

From Washington Post

“Young cranes are inquisitive creatures and will sometimes eat things they should not eat,” the USGS’s Jessica Fitzpatrick wrote to me in an email.

From Washington Post

If a couple prefers donations to a charity, then guests can give to charity, give nothing or give checks made out to the couple — which they can then donate, spend on themselves or fold into cranes.

From Washington Post

Excited, Shaheen wasted no time and began interviewing surgeons, deciding upon Dr. Curtis Crane in Greenbrae, California.

From The Daily Beast

During our meeting, Yuji took a small paper crane from a plastic box and dropped it into my palm.

From The Daily Beast

This is a project run by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership.

From The Daily Beast

If I look hard enough online, will I find video of you in one of those whooping crane suits?

From The Daily Beast

I made it physical, and the actors were really hanging from a crane 100 feet above the ground.

From The Daily Beast

A huge string game-bag was slung over his back, and in an antelope's horn or a crane's bill bullets were carried.

From Project Gutenberg

They did so, and Crane looked up at the fat hardware man with eyes that were not quite so contemptuous.

From Project Gutenberg

"Ten thousand eight hundred," Crane's youth bid, desperately.

From Project Gutenberg

He went back to his hardware store and waited—waited for Crane and Keith to start their inevitable logging operations.

From Project Gutenberg

After long delays Crane and Keith made pretense of building camps and starting to log.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cover
• develop
• draw
• expand
• fill
• go
• grow
• lengthen
• open
• pull
• reach
• run
• span
• spread
• strain
• swell
• unfold
• widen