Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cranks, present participle cranking, past tense, past participle cranked
1. countable noun
If you call someone a crank, you think their ideas or behaviour are strange.
[informal, disapproval]
The Prime Minister called Councillor Marshall 'a crank'.
He looked like a crank.
2. countable noun
A crank is a device that you turn in order to make something move.
3. verb
If you crank an engine or machine, you make it move or function, especially by turning a handle.
The chauffeur got out to crank the motor. [VERB noun]
Phrasal verbs:
See crank out
See crank up
More Synonyms of crank
crank in British English1
(kræŋk)
noun
1.
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
2. Also called: crank handle, starting handle
a handle incorporating a crank, used to start an engine or motor
3. informal
a.
an eccentric or odd person, esp someone who stubbornly maintains unusual views
b. US and Canadian
a bad-tempered person
4. a slang name for crystal meth
verb
5. (transitive)
to rotate (a shaft) by means of a crank
6. (transitive)
to start (an engine, motor, etc) by means of a crank handle
7. (transitive)
to bend, twist, or make into the shape of a crank
8. (intransitive) obsolete
to twist or wind
Word origin
Old English cranc; related to Middle Low German krunke wrinkle, Dutch krinkelcrinkle
crank in British English2
(kræŋk) or cranky
adjective
(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by the wind; tender
Word origin
C17: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to crank1
crank in American English1
(kræŋk)
noun
1.
a handle or arm bent at right angles and connected to a shaft of a machine, used to transmit motion or to change rotary motion into reciprocating motion, or vice versa
2. Informal
a.
a person who has odd, stubborn notions about something; eccentric
b.
an irritable, complaining person; cranky person
3. Archaic
a bend or turn
4. Rare
a.
a fanciful or unusual turn of speech or thought; conceit
b.
a queer or fantastic action or idea; whim; caprice
verb transitive
5.
to form into the shape of a crank
6.
to start or operate by means of a crank
7. Rare
to provide with a crank
verb intransitive
8.
to turn a crank, as in starting an engine or operating a device
9. Obsolete
to wind and twist; zigzag
Idioms:
crank out
crank up
Word origin
ME < OE cranc-, as in crancstæf, yarn comb, cringe, crinkle: basic sense “something twisted”: for IE base see cradle
crank in American English2
(kræŋk)
adjective
1. Nautical
cranky (sense 5)
2.
loose and shaky
said of machinery
Word origin
earlier crank sided < Du or Fris krengd, laid over (< krengan, to push over, lit., make cringe; akin to cringe): assimilated in form to crank1
crank in American English3
(kræŋk)
adjective
1. Dialectal
high-spirited; lively
2.
cocky
Word origin
LME cranke < ?
crank in Automotive Engineering
(kræŋk)
Word forms: (regular plural) cranks
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Engine, transmission, and exhaust)
A crank is an arm attached to a shaft that carries a handle or pedal parallel to the shaft.
One of the simplest of mechanical inventions was a crank which turns a shaft.
The connecting rod connects the crank to the piston.
The up-and-down motion of the pistons rotates the crank.
crank in Mechanical Engineering
(kræŋk)
Word forms: (regular plural) cranks
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Machinery and components)
A crank is a device for transferring motion from one part to another or for changing one type of motion to another. Itconsists of an arm sticking out from a shaft.
The drum is connected to the crank by a train of wheels, so that as the crank rotates the drum also turns.
A crank is an arm attached at right angles to a rotating shaft by which reciprocating motionis given to or received from the shaft.
A crank is a device for transferring motion from one part to another or for changing onetype of motion to another. It consists of an arm sticking out from a shaft.
Examples of 'crank' in a sentence
crank
Now, the anticipation cranked up another notch.
The Sun (2016)
He knew this guy can crank the engine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Try out a prison bed and learn about terrifying punishments such as the crank machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
As time ticked away the pressure cranked up.
The Sun (2011)
But this conference was not a sideshow for cranks and eccentrics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your initial investments act as the first turn of the crank.
Larry Downes THE STRATEGY MACHINE (2002)
Season with salt and pepper and crank the heat up to maximum.
The Sun (2016)
There are crank calls and mysterious power cuts.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
When we play well it cranks up a notch.
The Sun (2016)
The rest of us used hand cranked machines.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She also has to deal with some crank phone calls after she advertises for staff.
The Sun (2006)
Now he has to crank up the machine again.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The machine was cranked into gear.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The brokers are dancing now, shouting to the barman to crank up the volume.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They will need to check the fuel pressure when cranking, which could provide clues.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Viewers can look forward to explosive storylines as Eve cranks up the heat.
The Sun (2010)
She made around 280 crank calls in three years.
The Sun (2006)
He knows that the pressure will be cranked up over the next four years, but he has the perspective to cope.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
With one eye fixed firmly on these troubled times and the other on more personal issues, the singer cranks up the volume from the outset.
The Sun (2009)
His appearance on the touchline cranked up the volume in Celtic Park.
The Sun (2008)
This year, though, the pressure has been cranked up a notch.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One of the more soul-destroying was a sort of the treadmill, which involved the prisoner endlessly having to turn a crank.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The fan in turn drives a belt that turns a crank, and the crank moves the bellows, which keeps the fan going.
Larry Downes THE STRATEGY MACHINE (2002)
A bombastic first half found her youthful band cranking up the volume on Ready to Go.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
While we wait to see whether his side will finally crank into recognisable action tonight, there IS one thing we can ask for.
The Sun (2006)
In other languages
crank
British English: crank NOUN
If you call someone a crank, you think their ideas or behaviour are strange.
The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.
American English: crank
Brazilian Portuguese: excêntrico
Chinese: 怪人
European Spanish: chiflado
French: original
German: Spinner
Italian: tipo strambo
Japanese: 変人
Korean: 괴짜
European Portuguese: excêntrico
Latin American Spanish: chiflado
British English: crank VERB
If you crank an engine or machine, you make it move or function, especially by turning a handle.
The chauffeur got out to crank the motor.
American English: crank
Brazilian Portuguese: acionar
Chinese: 转动把手发动
European Spanish: arrancar con una manivela
French: faire démarrer à la manivelleN
German: ankurbeln
Italian: mettere in moto
Japanese: クランクを回して始動させる
Korean: 괴짜
European Portuguese: acionar
Latin American Spanish: arrancar con una manivela
All related terms of 'crank'
crank out
If you say that a company or person cranks out a quantity of similar things, you mean they produce them quickly, in the same way, and are usually implying that the things are not original or are of poor quality.
crank up
If you crank up a machine or a device, you make it function harder or at a greater level .
bell crank
a lever with two arms having a common fulcrum at their junction
crank handle
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
crank letter
a hostile or fanatical letter, often sent anonymously
crankpin
a short cylindrical bearing surface fitted between two arms of a crank and set parallel to the main shaft of the crankshaft
(noun)
Definition
an eccentric or odd person
(informal)
People think I'm a crank because of my beliefs.
Synonyms
eccentric
My other friend was a real English eccentric.
freak (informal)
The cast consisted of a bunch of freaks and social misfits.
oddball (informal)
weirdo or weirdie (informal)
case (informal)
character (informal)
He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character.
nut (slang)
flake (slang, mainly US)
screwball (slang, mainly US, Canadian)
odd fish (informal)
kook (US, Canadian, informal)
queer fish (British, informal)
rum customer (British, slang)
wacko or whacko (informal, old-fashioned)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of character
Definition
an unusual or amusing person
He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character.
Synonyms
eccentric,
card (informal),
original,
nut (slang),
flake (slang, US),
oddity,
oddball (informal),
odd bod (informal),
queer fish (British, informal),
wacko or whacko (informal, old-fashioned)
in the sense of freak
Definition
a person whose appearance or behaviour is very unusual
The cast consisted of a bunch of freaks and social misfits.