crank

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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

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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

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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

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adjective (2)

1

chiefly dialectal : merry, high-spirited

2

chiefly dialectal : cocky, confident

crank

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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

Examples of crank in a Sentence

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.

Adjective (2)

you shouldn't feel so crank, considering that you beat the worst softball team in the league

folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Most of the recipients dismissed the composer as a crank, but a few were spellbound by his transcendentalist conjurations, and a cult began to grow. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Robert Whittaker via submission in the first round (face crank) Magomed Ankalaev def. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

Read Vox’s reporting on the science of how psychedelics crank up the dial of meaningful experiences here. —Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

China condemned a North Korean missile test launch in 2017 and voted in favor of several U.N. Security Council resolutions cranking up economic pressure on North Korea the same year, causing tensions to boil between the two countries, according to a Brookings Institution report. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

Adjective

My feet were clipped in to pedals, my legs were turning crank arms, and the arms were linked via a chain to one of the wheels. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 12 May 2024

Secondary targets for theft include the pedals, crank arm and crankset, handlebar grips, shifter, derailleur, and brake calipers. —Matt Jancer, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023

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

Kids Definition

crank

1 of 2 noun

ˈkraŋk 

1

: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an armlike part at right angles to the end of a shaft that gives or receives circular motion

2

a

: a person with strange ideas

b

: a cross or irritable person

crank

2 of 2 verb

: to move, run, or start by or as if by turning a crank

crank up the window

you had to crank the old car

the engine isn't cranking right

Medical Definition

crank

noun

ˈkraŋk 

: crystal meth

specifically : an impure form of crystal meth