crane

[ kreyn ]
See synonyms for crane on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. Machinery. a device for lifting and moving heavy weights in suspension.

  2. any of various similar devices, as a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace, used for suspending pots over the fire.

  3. Movies, Television. a vehicle having a long boom on which a camera can be mounted for taking shots from high angles.

  4. Nautical. any of a number of supports for a boat or spare spar on the deck or at the side of a vessel.

  5. 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.

Origin of crane

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English cran; cognate with German Kran, Greek géranos

Other definitions for Crane (2 of 2)

Crane
[ kreyn ]

noun
  1. (Harold) Hart, 1899–1932, U.S. poet.

  2. Stephen, 1871–1900, U.S. novelist, poet, and short-story writer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crane in a sentence

  • He allowed himself to be pushed along until, by craning his neck, he could see what was the cause of the excitement.

    Robert Annys: Poor Priest | Annie Nathan Meyer

British Dictionary definitions for crane (1 of 2)

crane

/ (kreɪn) /


noun
  1. 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 (def. 1), whooping crane

  2. (not in ornithological use) any similar bird, such as a heron

  1. 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

  2. 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

  1. (intr) (of a horse) to pull up short before a jump

Origin of crane

1
Old English cran; related to Middle High German krane, Latin grūs, Greek géranos

British Dictionary definitions for Crane (2 of 2)

Crane

/ (kreɪn) /


noun
  1. (Harold) Hart. 1899–1932, US poet; author of The Bridge (1930)

  2. Stephen. 1871–1900, US novelist and short-story writer, noted particularly for his novel The Red Badge of Courage (1895)

  1. Walter. 1845–1915, British painter, illustrator of children's books, and designer of textiles and wallpaper

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012