crank

[ krangk ]

/ kræŋk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crank ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Machinery. any of several types of arms or levers for imparting rotary or oscillatory motion to a rotating shaft, one end of the crank being fixed to the shaft and the other end receiving reciprocating motion from a hand, connecting rod, etc.

Informal. an ill-tempered, grouchy person.

an unbalanced person who is overzealous in the advocacy of a private cause.

an eccentric or whimsical notion.

a strikingly clever turn of speech or play on words.

Archaic. a bend; turn.

Slang. the nasal decongestant propylhexedrine, used illicitly for its euphoric effects.

Automotive Slang. a crankshaft.

verb (used with object)

to bend into or make in the shape of a crank.

to furnish with a crank.

Machinery. to rotate (a shaft) by means of a crank.

to start (an internal-combustion engine) by turning the crankshaft manually or by means of a small motor.

to start the engine of (a motor vehicle) by turning the crankshaft manually.

verb (used without object)

to turn a crank, as in starting an automobile engine.

Obsolete. to turn and twist; zigzag.

adjective

unstable; shaky; unsteady.

of, relating to, or by an unbalanced or overzealous person: a crank phone call; crank mail.

British Dialect. cranky¹(def 5).

Verb Phrases

crank down, to cause to diminish or terminate: the president's efforts to crank down inflation.

crank in/into, to incorporate as an integral part: Overhead is cranked into the retail cost.

crank out, to make or produce in a mass-production, effortless, or mechanical way: She's able to crank out one best-selling novel after another.

crank up, Informal.

to get started or ready: The theater season is cranking up with four benefit performances.
to stimulate, activate, or produce: to crank up enthusiasm for a new product.
to increase one's efforts, output, etc.: Industry began to crank up after the new tax incentives became law.

Nearby words

craniosynostosis, craniotabes, craniotomy, craniotympanic, cranium, crank, crank in, crank letter, crank out, crank up, crank-sided

Origin of crank

before 1000; Middle English cranke, Old English cranc-, in crancstǣf crank (see staff¹)

Related forms

crank·less, adjectivenon·crank·ing, adjectiveun·cranked, adjective

Definition for crank (2 of 3)

crank

[ krangk ]

/ kræŋk /

adjective Nautical.

Also cranky. having a tendency to roll easily, as a boat or ship; tender (opposed to stiff).

noun

a crank vessel.

Origin of crank

1690–1700; probably to be identified with crank¹, but sense developement unclear; cf. crank-sided

Definition for crank (3 of 3)

crank

[ krangk ]

/ kræŋk /

adjective British Dialect.

lively; high-spirited.

Origin of crank

1350–1400; Middle English cranke, of obscure origin

Related forms

crank·ly, adverbcrank·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for crank

The wonderful reign of Queen Elizabeth has everyone worried about what will happen when her crank of a son takes the throne.
Imagining Prince Charles as King Makes All of Britain Wish They Could Leave Like Scotland|Clive Irving|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before the marriage it was already obvious that he was a bit of a crank.
Imagining Prince Charles as King Makes All of Britain Wish They Could Leave Like Scotland|Clive Irving|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I belong to the “Soccer Hater” demographic – middle-aged Republican crank with long, blonde hair and a great pair of gams.
Up To a Point: Oops, I Enjoyed Soccer|P. J. O’Rourke|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I belong to the “Soccer Hater” demographic—middle-aged Republican crank with long, blonde hair and a great pair of gams.
DUP-Up To a Point: Oops, I Enjoyed Soccer|P. J. O’Rourke|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

An uncomfortable urinary infection is going to feel way worse than those few minutes you spent trying to crank out your work.
8 Signs You’re Way Too Stressed (and How to Deal)|DailyBurn|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a direct-acting engine the throw of the crank is equal to the stroke of the piston.
An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design|David Allan Low
Two speeds were obtained by means of spur gearing between the crank shaft and the counter shaft.
Automobile Biographies|Lyman Horace Weeks
The crank is a short lever which transmits the power from the connecting rod to the crank shaft.
Farm Engines and How to Run Them|James H. Stephenson
Hawes looked at the face of the crank to see how much had been done, and lo!
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade
A machinist is making a crank pin (a kind of bolt) for an engine, according to this drawing.
The Teaching of Geometry|David Eugene Smith

British Dictionary definitions for crank (1 of 2)

crank

/ (kræŋk) /

noun

a device for communicating motion or for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa. It consists of an arm projecting from a shaft, often with a second member attached to it parallel to the shaft

Also called: crank handle, starting handle a handle incorporating a crank, used to start an engine or motor

informal

an eccentric or odd person, esp someone who stubbornly maintains unusual views
US and Canadian a bad-tempered person

verb

(tr) to rotate (a shaft) by means of a crank

(tr) to start (an engine, motor, etc) by means of a crank handle

(tr) to bend, twist, or make into the shape of a crank

(intr) obsolete to twist or wind

Word Origin for crank

Old English cranc; related to Middle Low German krunke wrinkle, Dutch krinkel crinkle

British Dictionary definitions for crank (2 of 2)

crank

cranky

/ (kræŋk) /

adjective

(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by the wind; tender

Word Origin for crank

C17: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to crank 1

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