: 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
Verb
We craned our necks toward the stage. craned her head to see the roof
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Noun
Crewmember James Walters was recording from the cab of his 20-ton lift crane as one of the buoys was released 5 nautical miles north of Port Angeles, Washington, and 3 nautical miles south of Race Rocks, British Columbia, officials said.—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025 These are diagrams of lines that tell you where to fold paper to make, say, a crane or frog.—Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
All craned to see, Jean and Wole from above, Kelly on shore below.—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 The cable provides both power and access to a data network, while also allowing heavy trash to be craned out of the water and secured aboard a support vessel for responsible disposal.—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crane
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
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