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crank
1[krangk]
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
verb phrase
to make or produce in a mass-production, effortless, or mechanical way.
She's able to crank out one best-selling novel after another.
to incorporate as an integral part.
Overhead is cranked into the retail cost.
to cause to diminish or terminate.
the president's efforts to crank down inflation.
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.
crank
2[krangk]
adjective
Also having a tendency to roll easily, as a boat or ship; tender (stiff ).
noun
a crank vessel.
crank
3[krangk]
adjective
crank
1/ æŋ /
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
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
obsolete(intr) to twist or wind
crank
2/ æŋ /
adjective
(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by the wind; tender
Other 51Թ Forms
- crankless adjective
- noncranking adjective
- uncranked adjective
- crankly adverb
- crankness noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of crank1
Origin of crank2
Origin of crank3
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of crank1
Origin of crank2
Example Sentences
It will take years for Europe's military industrial base to crank up to speed to match anywhere near the scale of weaponry that Russia is churning out.
Since the start of 2024, “it’s been kind of cranking along at a pretty steady rate,” he said.
In the past, Reichsbürger were often dismissed as eccentric cranks because of their outlandish ideas.
They argue too it is primarily about mitigating the recent cranking up of tariffs, rather than a deep and broad free trade agreement – and there is something in that critique.
The Vernon plant where Farmer John hot dogs were once made will soon be cranking out millions of pounds of meat sticks for a fast-growing Southern California snack food company.
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