crooked; crooking; crooks
1
2
: a part of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent
the crook of an umbrella handle
4
: a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices
Synonyms
Examples of crook in a Sentence
Verb
He crooked his finger at us and led us to the table.
the road suddenly crooked to the left
Noun
He thinks politicians are just a bunch of crooks.
the crook of his arm
The squirrel sat in the crook of the tree.
the crook of the cane
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2024
Had the train recently hosted the cast of Cirque du Soleil, perhaps, who insisted on descending head first, arms outstretched, after crooking one knee over the top rung?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
In their native home in Brazil, Christmas cacti grow as epiphytes in the crooks of tree branches.1 For successful growth indoors, choose a well-draining potting soil containing perlite and a container with good drainage holes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crook 
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Verb
This is the best approach for stars whose characters have crooked, chipped or missing teeth.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2024
Had the train recently hosted the cast of Cirque du Soleil, perhaps, who insisted on descending head first, arms outstretched, after crooking one knee over the top rung?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
Noun
Cyber crooks make good money by targeting checking accounts and bank accounts.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
In their native home in Brazil, Christmas cacti grow as epiphytes in the crooks of tree branches.1 For successful growth indoors, choose a well-draining potting soil containing perlite and a container with good drainage holes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crook
Dictionary Entries Near crook
Cite this Entry
“Crook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crook. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crook
1 of 2 verbcrook
2 of 2 noun1
: a shepherd's staff with one end curved into a hook
2
: a dishonest person (as a thief or swindler)
3
: a curved or hooked part of a thing : bend
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