crane

[ kreyn ]

/ kreɪn /

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See synonyms for crane on Thesaurus.com

noun

any large wading bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by long legs, bill, and neck and an elevated hind toe.

(not used scientifically) any of various similar birds of other families, as the great blue heron.

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

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

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

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

Crane, Astronomy. the constellation Grus.

verb (used with object), craned, cran·ing.

to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane.

to stretch (the neck) as a crane does.

verb (used without object), craned, cran·ing.

to stretch out one's neck, especially to see better.

to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of crane

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

Words nearby crane

Cranborne money, Cranbrook, crance iron, cranch, crandall, crane, crane fly, cranesbill, Cranford, cranial, cranial index

Other definitions for crane (2 of 2)

Crane

[ kreyn ]

/ kreɪn /

noun

(Harold) Hart, 1899–1932, U.S. poet.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use crane in a sentence

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.
NASA rover Perseverance lands on Mars in mission to search for past life|Joel Achenbach, Sarah Kaplan, Ben Guarino|February 18, 2021|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.
Perseverance rover has landed safely on Mars|John Timmer|February 18, 2021|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.
Some objects will remind us of the pandemic long after it’s over|Theresa Vargas|February 17, 2021|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.
The National Zoo’s wild naming inspiration, from Billy Joel to the Golden Girls|John Kelly|January 25, 2021|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.
Carolyn Hax: Is it a problem that we never have anything to say to each other?|Carolyn Hax|January 2, 2021|Washington Post
Excited, Shaheen wasted no time and began interviewing surgeons, deciding upon Dr. Curtis Crane in Greenbrae, California.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake.|James Joiner|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
During our meeting, Yuji took a small paper crane from a plastic box and dropped it into my palm.
Truman’s Grandson & Japan’s A-Bomb Survivors: A Story of Reconciliation|Clifton Truman Daniel|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a project run by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership.
Mississippi Hippos, Teddy Bears, and Other Strange Beasts|Scott Porch|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I look hard enough online, will I find video of you in one of those whooping crane suits?
Mississippi Hippos, Teddy Bears, and Other Strange Beasts|Scott Porch|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I made it physical, and the actors were really hanging from a crane 100 feet above the ground.
Michel Gondry on ‘Mood Indigo,’ Kanye West, and the 10th Anniversary of ‘Eternal Sunshine’|Marlow Stern|July 20, 2014|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.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
They did so, and Crane looked up at the fat hardware man with eyes that were not quite so contemptuous.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
"Ten thousand eight hundred," Crane's youth bid, desperately.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
He went back to his hardware store and waited—waited for Crane and Keith to start their inevitable logging operations.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
After long delays Crane and Keith made pretense of building camps and starting to log.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for crane (1 of 2)

crane

/ (kreɪn) /

noun

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 GruiformesSee also demoiselle (def. 1), whooping crane

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

a device for lifting and moving heavy objects, typically consisting of a moving boom, beam, or gantry from which lifting gear is suspendedSee also gantry

films a large trolley carrying a boom, on the end of which is mounted a camera

verb

(tr) to lift or move (an object) by or as if by a crane

to stretch out (esp the neck), as to see over other people's heads

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

Word Origin for crane

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

British Dictionary definitions for crane (2 of 2)

Crane

/ (kreɪn) /

noun

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

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

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

crane

Origin of crane

Words nearby crane

Other definitions for crane (2 of 2)

Words related to crane

How to use crane in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crane (1 of 2)

Word Origin for crane

British Dictionary definitions for crane (2 of 2)