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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
- of, relating to, or by an unbalanced or overzealous person:
a crank phone call; crank mail.
- British Dialect. cranky 1( def 5 ).
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 calledcrank handlestarting 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 Word Forms
- l adjective
- ԴDz·iԲ adjective
- ܲ· adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of crank1
Origin of crank2
Origin of crank3
Word History and Origins
Origin of crank1
Origin of crank2
Example Sentences
But what struck me — and often strikes me in the coverage of Musk's spiral into a total crank — is how the richest man in the world seems lonely.
They hit 26 winners to 10 from the Netherlands, with Boulter cranking up her forehand in the deciding moments.
It wasn't until his third run for president that he really cranked up the threats.
There were also post-match chants against the Glazer family from home fans who stayed behind, determined to crank up pressure on the American majority owners, who they blame for United's parlous state.
about cranking up income tax, national insurance or VAT?
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