crank

[ krangk ]

/ kræŋk /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of crank

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crank, cronk, Old English cranc-, in crancstæf, a kind of weaver's tool (see staff¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM crank

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

Words nearby crank

craniosacral, craniosacral therapy, cranioscopy, craniotomy, cranium, crank, crankcase, crank in, crankle, crank letter, Cranko

Other definitions for crank (2 of 3)

crank²

[ 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

First recorded in 1690–1700; probably to be identified with crank¹, but sense development unclear; see also crank-sided

Other definitions for crank (3 of 3)

crank³

[ krangk ]

/ kræŋk /

adjective British Dialect.

lively; high-spirited.

Origin of crank

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English cranke; of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM crank

crankly, adverbcrankness, noun

How to use crank in a sentence

Whereas an oven set to bake — even cranked up to 500 degrees — tends to slightly steam watery vegetables or cuts of meat coated in a marinade before the food starts to brown, a broiler comes in hot and fast, crisping as soon as the flames appear.
Don’t Fear the Broiler|Elazar Sontag|February 11, 2021|Eater
Demands quickly flip from how high to crank your hill to how honest you’re willing to be with yourself to how thankful you are.
Peloton makes toning your glutes feel spiritual. But should Jesus be part of the experience?|Michelle Boorstein|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
It unveiled itself to us really as we started cranking on the numbers.
National Zoo to split with longtime partner FONZ|Michael Ruane|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Additional snow showers may develop as the storm off the Mid-Atlantic coast cranks up.
Updates: An icy morning with scattered snow showers developing into the afternoon|Jason Samenow|February 1, 2021|Washington Post

Shooters can choose whether they prefer to optimize the finder for detail by maximizing the resolution or cranking up the refresh rate in order to get smoother motion when composing shots.
Fujifilm’s new 102-megapixel camera is the size of a typical DSLR|Stan Horaczek|January 30, 2021|Popular-Science
After passing through an iron door with a round crank, a small blueprint marks the official entrance into the secret shelter.
The Secret Soviet Power Bunker—in Latvia, a Hiding Place for the Elite|Brandon Presser|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
This being a manifesto, there are a few moments when Almond sounds like a self-righteous crank.
Has Football Jumped the Shark?|Kevin Canfield|September 1, 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
But our first care was to ballast the sloop, for without it she was so crank as to be unseaworthy.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
Inside the box was one of those little, old-fashioned Swiss music boxes, and May was industriously turning the crank.
Ruth Fielding At College|Alice B. Emerson
The crank is then run through the bearing hole and a nut run on the threads and a washer placed against the nut.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
This size rod was procured and bent to form a crank, the bearing end being threaded for a distance equal to the length of the hub.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
He looked out in the street, and there he saw a hand-organ man grinding away at the crank which made the nice music.
Mappo, the Merry Monkey|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for crank (1 of 2)

crank¹

/ (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)

crank²

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

crank

Origin of crank

OTHER WORDS FROM crank

Words nearby crank

Other definitions for crank (2 of 3)

Origin of crank

Other definitions for crank (3 of 3)

Origin of crank

OTHER WORDS FROM crank

Words related to crank

How to use crank in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crank (1 of 2)

Word Origin for crank

British Dictionary definitions for crank (2 of 2)

cranky

Word Origin for crank