crane

¹crane

noun \ˈkrān\

Definition of CRANE

1

: any of a family (Gruidae of the order Gruiformes) of tall wading birds superficially resembling the herons but structurally more nearly related to the rails

2

: any of several herons

3

: an often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: as a : a machine for raising, shifting, and lowering heavy weights by means of a projecting swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track b : an iron arm in a fireplace for supporting kettles c : a boom for holding a motion-picture or television camera

Illustration of CRANE

Origin of CRANE

Middle English cran, from Old English; akin to Old High German krano crane, Greek geranos, Latin grus

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

Rhymes with CRANE

ain, Aisne, ane, Bain, bane, blain, brain, cane, chain, deign, drain, fain, fane, feign, gain, grain, Kane, lane, Lane, main, mane, pain, Paine, pane, plain, plane, quean, rain, reign, rein, sain, sane, seine, Seine, skein, Spain, sprain, stain, strain, swain, thane, thegn, train, twain, Twain, vain, vane, vein, wain, wane, Wayne