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crankshaft

American  
[krangk-shaft, -shahft] / ˈkræŋkˌʃæft, -ˌʃɑft /

noun

Machinery.
  • crankshafts
    plural
  1. a shaft having one or more cranks, usually formed as integral parts.


crankshaft British  
/ ˈkræŋkˌʃɑːft /

noun

  1. a shaft having one or more cranks, esp the main shaft of an internal-combustion engine to which the connecting rods are attached

"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 Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of crankshaft

First recorded in 1850–55; crank 1 + shaft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Chen recalled a time when the company worked with one of the world’s largest crankshaft manufacturers in India.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 3, 2026

A flaming ear of corn transforms into a crankshaft.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 19, 2026

Then, in January 2016, came the first "thermal incident" - a police car fire caused by the same crankshaft bearing issue that later affected PC Dumphreys' car.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2023

Engines can fail due to a crankshaft machining problem.

From Seattle Times Jul. 8, 2022

It was the crankshaft, which is a long metal rod that connects the engine to the propellers.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

Around the time of the boil-water advisories, workers at a General Motors plant in Flint noticed rust forming on engine crankshafts and blocks.

From The Guardian Jul. 3, 2018

On Aug. 9 it passed through the Suez Canal, and a week later it arrived in Rotterdam, its containers full of televisions and action figures, DVD players and crankshafts, chairs, tables, shirts, and shoes.

From BusinessWeek Sep. 5, 2013

“But you really need to do some more things to the engine — forged rods, steel crankshafts and so forth -– to ensure durability,” Mr. Reinert said.

From New York Times Apr. 15, 2010

Ironically, one of the main reasons why production is behind schedule is that tractors must compete directly with naval equipment for scarce cylinder blocks, engines, crankshafts, etc.

From Time Magazine Archive

This method of turning crankshafts is often used in general repair shops, etc., especially where new shafts do not have to be turned very often.

From Turning and Boring A specialized treatise for machinists, students in the industrial and engineering schools, and apprentices, on turning and boring methods, etc. by Franklin D. Jones

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