Appearance
Use device theme  
Dark theme
Light theme

What does crank mean?

Looking for the meaning or definition of the word crank? Here's what it means.

Adjective
  1. (slang) strange, weird, odd
  2. sick; unwell; infirm
  3. (nautical, of a ship) Liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast.
  4. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
Noun
  1. A bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.(Can we add an example for this sense?)
  2. The act of converting power into motion, by turning a crankshaft.
  3. (archaic) Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
  4. (informal) An ill-tempered or nasty person
  5. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
  6. (informal, Britain, dated in US) A person who is considered strange or odd by others. They may behave in unconventional ways.
  7. (informal) An advocate of a pseudoscience movement.
  8. (US, slang) methamphetamine.
  9. (rare) A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
  10. (obsolete) A sick person; an invalid.
Verb
  1. (transitive) To turn by means of a crank.
  2. (intransitive) To turn a crank.
  3. (intransitive, of a crank or similar) To turn.
  4. (transitive) To cause to spin via other means, as though turned by a crank.
  5. (intransitive) To act in a cranky manner; to behave unreasonably and irritably, especially through complaining.
  6. (intransitive) To be running at a high level of output or effort.
  7. (intransitive, dated) To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
Find more words!
Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Advanced Search Advanced Search
Use * for blank spaces Advanced Search
Advanced Word Finder

See Also

Nearby Definitions
5-letter Words Starting With
Find Definitions
go
Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms
Copyright WordHippo © 2024