crank

¹crank

noun \ˈkraŋk\

Definition of CRANK

1

: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa

2

a archaic : bend b : a twist or turn of speech : conceit —used especially in the phrase quips and cranks c (1) : caprice, crotchet (2) : an annoyingly eccentric person; also : one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity d : a bad-tempered person : grouch

3

: crystal 7

— crank·ish \ˈkraŋ-kish\ adjective

Examples of CRANK

1. To open the car window, turn the crank on the door.
2. He was dismissed as a crank until his article was published.
3. Most people think she's just a harmless crank.

Origin of CRANK

Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick — more at cringe

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CRANK

Synonyms: character, codger, crack, crackbrain, crackpot, eccentric, flake, fruitcake, head case, kook, nut, nutcase, nutter [British slang], oddball, oddity, original, quiz, screwball, weirdo, zany

Related Words: bohemian, maverick, nonconformist, quixote; coot, geezer; curio, rarity; freak; fantast, fantastico

Near Antonyms: conformer, conformist, follower, sheep

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Other Mechanical Engineering Terms

centrifuge, differential, flange, lathe, linchpin, pinion, plenum, ratchet, traction

Rhymes with CRANK

bank, blank, clank, dank, flank, franc, frank, hank, lank, plank, prank, rank, shank, spank, stank, swank, tank, thank, yank, Yank