crook

1
[ krook ]
See synonyms for crook on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc.; hook.

  2. the hooked part of anything.

  1. 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.

  2. a dishonest person, especially a sharper, swindler, or thief.

  3. a bend, turn, or curve: a crook in the road.

  4. the act of crooking or bending.

  5. 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.

verb (used with object)
  1. to bend; curve; make a crook in: He crooked a finger to get the waitperson's attention.

  2. Slang. to steal, cheat, or swindle: She crooked a ring from that shop.

verb (used without object)
  1. to bend; curve: My little toe crooks to the side.

Origin of crook

1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English crok, crouk, from Old Norse krōkr “hook, barb, corner”

Words Nearby crook

Other definitions for crook (2 of 3)

crook2
[ krook ]

adjectiveAustralian.
  1. sick or feeble.

  2. ill-humored; angry.

  1. out of order; functioning improperly.

Origin of crook

2
First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps alteration of cronk

Other definitions for Crook (3 of 3)

Crook
[ krook ]

noun
  1. George, 1829–90, U.S. general in Indian wars.

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

How to use crook in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crook

crook

/ (krʊk) /


noun
  1. a curved or hooked thing

  2. a staff with a hooked end, such as a bishop's crosier or shepherd's staff

  1. a turn or curve; bend

  2. informal a dishonest person, esp a swindler or thief

  3. the act or an instance of crooking or bending

  4. Also called: shank a piece of tubing added to a brass instrument in order to obtain a lower harmonic series

verb
  1. to bend or curve or cause to bend or curve

adjective
  1. Australian and NZ informal

    • ill

    • of poor quality

    • unpleasant; bad

  2. go crook or go off crook Australian and NZ informal to lose one's temper

  1. go crook at or go crook on Australian and NZ informal to rebuke or upbraid

Origin of crook

1
C12: from Old Norse krokr hook; related to Swedish krok, Danish krog hook, Old High German krācho hooked tool

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with crook

crook

In addition to the idioms beginning with crook

  • crook one's elbow

also see:

  • by hook or crook

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.