a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc.; hook.
the hooked part of anything.
an instrument or implement having a bent or curved part, as a shepherd's staff hooked at one end or the crosier of a bishop or abbot.
a dishonest person, especially a sharper, swindler, or thief.
a bend, turn, or curve.
a crook in the road.
the act of crooking or bending.
a pothook.
Also called shank. a device on some musical wind instruments for changing the pitch, consisting of a piece of tubing inserted into the main tube.
a curved or hooked thing
a staff with a hooked end, such as a bishop's crosier or shepherd's staff
a turn or curve; bend
informal a dishonest person, esp a swindler or thief
the act or an instance of crooking or bending
Also called: shank. a piece of tubing added to a brass instrument in order to obtain a lower harmonic series
informal
ill
of poor quality
unpleasant; bad
informal to lose one's temper
informal to rebuke or upbraid
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English crok, crouk, from Old Norse krōkr “hook, barb, corner”
First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps alteration of cronk
A crook is long staff that’s bent at one end, like something you might see a shepherd carrying. A crook can also be a criminal — a person who’s dishonest, or bent, just like the staff. The noun crook entered English in the 13th century as a way to describe the long tool with a hook at one end. It later took on the meaning of “petty criminal.” You can use crook as an informal way to describe someone who is dishonest. A crook is typically involved in minor or nonviolent crimes; you wouldn’t use the word to describe a murderer, for example. A con man or someone committing fraud could be called a crook.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And though the high gloss may be an act given Gaston’s actual vocation, Marshall plays the part as if the crook himself believes the masquerade.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
"I think until the end of her days, she was convinced that I must have been a crook," he laughed.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
It was late, and the store was out of disposable bags, so I tucked some of the loot into my dance bag and cradled the rest in the crook of my arm.
From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026
Hemlock is a small town located in the crook of the Michigan mitten, between the thumb and the fingers.
From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025
A gift bag hangs from the crook of his finger.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
