crank

1 of 5

noun

ˈkraŋk

: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa

archaic : bend

: a twist or turn of speech : conceit

—used especially in the phrase quips and cranks

c(1)

: caprice, crotchet

(2)

: an annoyingly eccentric person

also : one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity

: a bad-tempered person : grouch

: crystal meth

specifically : an impure form of crystal meth

crankish

ˈkraŋ-kish How to pronounce crank (audio)

adjective

crank

2 of 5

verb

cranked; cranking; cranks

intransitive verb

: to move with a winding course : zigzag

: to turn a crank

: to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank

: to gain speed, momentum, or intensity

—usually used with up

the campaign is cranking up

transitive verb

: to move or operate by or as if by a crank

crank the window down

: to cause to start

crank an automobile

: to rotate the shaft (such as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter

crank over an engine

: to use in trying to start an engine

crank the starter

: to start as if by use of a crank

—usually used with up

she cranked up the air conditioner

: turn up sense 2

—usually used with up

crank up the volume

crank

3 of 5

adjective (1)

: of, relating to, or being a bad-tempered or annoyingly eccentric person

also : made or sent by such a person or by someone intending to be an annoyance or to cause harm

crank calls

a crank letter

crank

4 of 5

adjective (2)

chiefly dialectal : merry, high-spirited

chiefly dialectal : cocky, confident

crank

5 of 5

adjective (3)

of a boat

: easily tipped : tender entry 1 sense 4d

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick — more at cringe

Adjective (2)

Middle English cranke

Adjective (3)

short for crank-sided easily tipped

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective (1)

1924, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (3)

circa 1649, in the meaning defined above

单词	crankish
释义	crank 1 of 5 noun ˈkraŋk 1 : a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa 2 a archaic : bend b : a twist or turn of speech : conceit —used especially in the phrase quips and cranks c(1) : caprice, crotchet (2) : an annoyingly eccentric person also : one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity d : a bad-tempered person : grouch 3 : crystal meth specifically : an impure form of crystal meth crankish ˈkraŋ-kish adjective crank 2 of 5 verb cranked; cranking; cranks intransitive verb 1 : to move with a winding course : zigzag 2 a : to turn a crank b : to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank c : to gain speed, momentum, or intensity —usually used with up the campaign is cranking up transitive verb 1 : to move or operate by or as if by a crank crank the window down 2 a : to cause to start crank an automobile b : to rotate the shaft (such as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter crank over an engine c : to use in trying to start an engine crank the starter 3 a : to start as if by use of a crank —usually used with up she cranked up the air conditioner b : turn up sense 2 —usually used with up crank up the volume crank 3 of 5 adjective (1) : of, relating to, or being a bad-tempered or annoyingly eccentric person also : made or sent by such a person or by someone intending to be an annoyance or to cause harm crank calls a crank letter crank 4 of 5 adjective (2) 1 chiefly dialectal : merry, high-spirited 2 chiefly dialectal : cocky, confident crank 5 of 5 adjective (3) of a boat : easily tipped : tender entry 1 sense 4d Synonyms Noun character codger crack crackbrain crackpot eccentric flake fruitcake head case kook nut nutcase nutter [British slang] oddball oddity original quiz screwball weirdo zany Verb activate actuate drive move run set off spark start touch off trigger turn on Adjective (2) cock-a-hoop crowing exultant exulting glorying jubilant prideful proud rejoicing triumphant See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun To open the car window, turn the crank on the door. He was dismissed as a crank until his article was published. Most people think she's just a harmless crank. Verb He cranked the temperature to 75 degrees. Crank the engine to see if it will start. Word History Etymology Noun Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick — more at cringe Adjective (2) Middle English cranke Adjective (3) short for crank-sided easily tipped First Known Use Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Adjective (1) 1924, in the meaning defined above Adjective (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective (3) circa 1649, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing crank crank out crank out Kids Definition crank 1 of 2 noun ˈkraŋk 1 : a bent part with a handle that is turned to start or run machinery 2 : a person with strange ideas 3 : a cross or irritable person crank 2 of 2 verb cranked; cranking 1 : to start or run by or as if by turning a part with a handle 2 : to make or become greater in speed or intensity crank the volume Medical Definition crank noun ˈkraŋk : crystal meth specifically : an impure form of crystal meth crankish adjective as in eccentric Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance eccentric flaky quirky impetuous mercurial arbitrary volatile temperamental quixotic shaky whimsical freakish capricious moody utopian erratic impractical inconstant romantic unrealistic fickle wilful impulsive irregular visionary quixotical willful Antonyms & Near Antonyms practical pragmatic reasonable pragmatical sensible logical equable rational sound hardheaded levelheaded earthy commonsensical sane sober invariable grounded uncompromising unrelenting unbending immutable tough-minded inflexible unyielding constant fixed matter-of-fact down-to-earth unchangeable unalterable hard-boiled unchanging stable unvarying sobersided steadfast steady fast no-nonsense changeless established settled set hard-and-fast See More
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crank

noun

verb

adjective (1)

adjective (2)

adjective (3)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing crank

Kids Definition

noun

verb

Medical Definition

noun

adjective