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crank

KRANGK/kɹæŋk/

Pluralcranks

Verbcranks, cranking, cranked

25 meanings of crank

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  1. 1
    turning levernouncountable
    A bent arm on a machine that turns a wheel, or that changes back-and-forth movement into spinning.

    Turn the crank on the pencil sharpener a few times.

    Each pedal on a bike is attached to a crank.

    Note
  2. 2
    high outputverbintransitive
    To be running or working at a high level, with lots of effort or power.

    The bakery was cranking all night before the big holiday.

    Our team can really crank when a deadline is near.

    UsageOften really cranking: working very hard.

    Similarhum

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To turn a handle to make a machine work.

    Grandpa let me crank the ice cream maker on the porch.

    He cranked the old record player, and music filled the room.

    UsageOften crank something by hand.

    Similarturn, wind

    Note
  4. 4
    nounabbreviationclipping
    Short for crankshaft: the main turning shaft in an engine, driven by the pistons.

    The mechanic said the crank in my car's engine was cracked.

    Oil keeps the crank spinning smoothly inside the engine.

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncolloquialcountable
    A strange person who believes and keeps pushing odd or wrong ideas.

    A crank kept emailing the science teacher about his machine that runs forever.

    My uncle is a crank who believes the Earth is flat and argues about it with anyone who will listen.

    UsageCalling someone a crank is not polite.

    Similarcrackpot, eccentric, kook, nut, oddball

  6. 6
    verbtransitive
    To try to start an engine by turning the key, or of an engine, to turn when started.

    When she turned the key, the battery was too weak to crank the engine.

    Mom hopped in, cranked the minivan, and turned on the heat.

    UsageAn engine can crank but not start: it turns, but does not begin to run.

    Similarturn over

    Note
  7. 7
    act of turningnouncountable
    The act of turning a handle or shaft to make a machine move.

    It only takes one crank of the handle to open the skylight.

    Grandpa gave the old car a few hard cranks, and the engine started.

    UsageSay give it a crank.

    Similarturn, rotation

    Note

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Origins

Meanings 5, 8, 11–12

This word came from Dutch or Low German krank. It goes back to an old Germanic word meaning "bent" or "weak."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 1–4, 6–7, 9–10, 13–15

This word came from Middle English crank. It is a short form of an Old English word for a weaving tool, meaning "bent staff."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • Crank came through Middle English crank as a shortened form of Old English crancstæf. en.wiktionary.org
  • The Old English word denoted a weaving tool and literally meant a bent staff. en.wiktionary.org