crock

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈkräk 

1

: a thick earthenware pot or jar

2

[from its formation on cooking pots] dialect : soot, smut

3

: coloring matter that rubs off from cloth or dyed leather

4

: bunkum

—usually used with a

the story in the paper is a crock

crock

2 of 4

verb (1)

crocked; crocking; crocks

transitive verb

1

: to put or preserve in a crock

2

dialect : to soil with crock : smudge

intransitive verb

: to transfer color (as when rubbed or washed)

a suede that will not crock

crock

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: one that is broken-down, disabled, or impaired

so many old … crocks with one foot in the grave

—Angus Wilson

2

slang : a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic

crock

4 of 4

verb (2)

crocked; crocking; crocks

transitive verb

: to cause to become disabled

intransitive verb

: break down

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• garbage
• nonsense
• nuts
• rubbish
• blah
• stupidity
• bunk
• drool
• silliness
• trash
• baloney
• jazz
• muck

Examples of crock in a Sentence

Noun (1)

that whole thing about how surprised she was to win the award was a crock

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Set out toothpicks and let attendees serve themselves straight from the crock. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 12 June 2025

In March, with Easter around the corner, trending purchases included a crock pot for hosting as well as candy like gummy clusters and ring lollipops. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 June 2025

Verb

But which No 9 good enough to lead a Premier League promotion chase is going to come to Leeds this month and sit on the bench waiting for the Dutchman to get crocked? Farke has mentioned Gnonto as an emergency striker option, if needed. —Beren Cross, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Store indigo garments together or wrap them in tissue to avoid crocking. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English crocc; akin to Old English crūce pot, pitcher, Middle High German krūche

Noun (2)

Middle English crok; akin to Low German krakke broken-down horse

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1594, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for crock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

crock

1 of 2 noun

ˈkräk 

: a pot or jar made of baked clay

crock

2 of 2 noun

: one that is broken-down or useless

Medical Definition

crock

noun

ˈkräk 

slang

: a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic