plural crooks
1
informal
a
: a dishonest person
He thinks politicians are just a bunch of crooks.
b
: a criminal
a small-time crook
2
a
: the place where part of the body (such as an arm, leg, or finger) bends
the crook of his arm
b
: a curved or hooked part of something
The squirrel sat in the crook of the tree.
the crook of the cane
3
: a long stick with one end curved into a hook that is used by a shepherd
crooks; crooked; crooking
: to bend (your finger, neck, or arm)
He crooked his finger at us and led us to the table.
Cite this Entry
“Crook.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crook. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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