Illustration of crane
- crane 1
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: such 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
craned; craning
1
: to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
2
: to stretch toward an object of attention
craning her neck to get a better view
1
: to stretch one's neck toward an object of attention
I craned out of the window of my compartment—
Webb Waldron
Webb Waldron2
: hesitate
Synonyms
Examples of crane in a Sentence
Verb
We craned our necks toward the stage.
craned her head to see the roof
Recent Examples on the WebChris Pandolfo, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2024
The first debris lift – which involves using a using a 160-ton crane – marks the beginning of a long process toward reopening the port to tug and barge traffic, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard said at the Saturday news conference.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Saturday's operation involves cutting a piece just north of that channel and lifting it with a 160-ton marine crane onto a barge.
—David Lawder, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
But even that crane can't move all of the twisted steel that's resting on the bow of the cargo ship Dali.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Huge crane ships, thousands of relief workers and millions of dollars headed toward Baltimore on Thursday, as efforts turned from recovery after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to a massive cleanup that some experts described as unprecedented and highly dangerous.
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
For example, the Port of Seattle bought into the container ship revolution in the mid-20th century, with investments in containers, cranes and a redesign of its terminals.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
The city's iconic towers have become enmeshed by construction cranes and the glass-and-steel condos those cranes raise.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Last year, the Port of San Diego became the first in North America to install a pair of all-electric cranes to load and off-load heavy cargo.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024
As Negrete looks the man over, crowds of people encircle the tent, craning to see the day’s injured.
—Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
Necks craned to see the television screens positioned throughout the space.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024
The innovative way of using the seemingly simple item is to prevent having to crane your neck while watching a show or movie on your phone screen.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024
We’re left on the outside, craning our necks, trying to get closer.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024
This will stop you from craning your head and looking up, which can mess with your ability to keep your back straight and strain your neck.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 17 Jan. 2024
Pin craned her neck to look: one vehicle had scraped another.
—Vera Carothers, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
Civilians race before him through the streets, necks craned upward in terror.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024
Noun
Crews tried to remove one section of the bridge on Monday, but cranes couldn't operate because of lightning in the area, which slowed down recovery operations.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2024
The first debris lift – which involves using a using a 160-ton crane – marks the beginning of a long process toward reopening the port to tug and barge traffic, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard said at the Saturday news conference.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Saturday's operation involves cutting a piece just north of that channel and lifting it with a 160-ton marine crane onto a barge.
—David Lawder, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
But even that crane can't move all of the twisted steel that's resting on the bow of the cargo ship Dali.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Huge crane ships, thousands of relief workers and millions of dollars headed toward Baltimore on Thursday, as efforts turned from recovery after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to a massive cleanup that some experts described as unprecedented and highly dangerous.
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
For example, the Port of Seattle bought into the container ship revolution in the mid-20th century, with investments in containers, cranes and a redesign of its terminals.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
The city's iconic towers have become enmeshed by construction cranes and the glass-and-steel condos those cranes raise.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Last year, the Port of San Diego became the first in North America to install a pair of all-electric cranes to load and off-load heavy cargo.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
Characters race onto rooftops, open-mouthed, their necks craned toward the cosmos.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024
As Negrete looks the man over, crowds of people encircle the tent, craning to see the day’s injured.
—Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
Necks craned to see the television screens positioned throughout the space.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Jan. 2024
The innovative way of using the seemingly simple item is to prevent having to crane your neck while watching a show or movie on your phone screen.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024
We’re left on the outside, craning our necks, trying to get closer.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024
This will stop you from craning your head and looking up, which can mess with your ability to keep your back straight and strain your neck.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 17 Jan. 2024
Pin craned her neck to look: one vehicle had scraped another.
—Vera Carothers, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
Civilians race before him through the streets, necks craned upward in terror.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English cran, from Old English; akin to Old High German krano crane, Greek geranos, Latin grus
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1570, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of crane was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing crane
Dictionary Entries Near crane
Cite this Entry
“Crane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crane. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
crane
1 of 2 noun1
: any of a family of tall wading birds related to the rails
2
: any of several herons
3
a
: a machine with a swinging arm for lifting and carrying heavy weights
b
: a mechanical arm that swings freely from a center and is used to support or carry a weight
crane
2 of 2 verb
craned; craning
1
: to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
2
: to stretch out one's neck to see better
Biographical Definition
Crane
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Stephen 1871–1900 American writer
Crane
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Walter 1845–1915 English artist
More from Merriam-Webster on crane
Nglish: Translation of crane for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of crane for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crane
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