Pronunciation: /kræŋk/

Definitions of crank

noun a person who holds eccentric or odd beliefs

Example Sentences

A1 I used a crank to open the window.

A2 The old car had a manual crank to start the engine.

B1 He gave the crank a few turns to get the machine running.

B2 The crank on the fishing reel was broken, so he had to replace it.

C1 The musician adjusted the crank on the organ to change the sound.

C2 The engineer designed a new crank system for the machinery to increase efficiency.

verb to turn a crank in order to start or operate a machine

Example Sentences

A1 I crank the handle to open the window.

A2 She cranks the engine to start the car.

B1 He cranked up the volume on the radio.

B2 The musician cranked out a new song in just one day.

C1 The factory cranks out hundreds of products every hour.

C2 The author cranked out several best-selling novels in a single year.

adjective eccentric or odd in behavior

Example Sentences

A1 I need a new crank handle for my window.

A2 The crank mechanism on the old car was broken.

B1 She struggled to turn the crank wheel on the machine.

B2 The crank radio provided us with emergency updates during the storm.

C1 The crankshaft in the engine needed to be replaced.

C2 The antique clock had a beautifully crafted crank mechanism.

Examples of crank in a Sentence

formal The mechanic used a crank to turn the engine over.

informal I had to crank up the volume on the radio to hear the music.

slang He's always cranking out new ideas for the business.

figurative She really knows how to crank up the intensity in her workouts.

Grammatical Forms of crank

past tense

cranked

plural

cranks

comparative

crankier

superlative

crankiest

present tense

crank

future tense

will crank

perfect tense

have cranked

continuous tense

is cranking

singular

crank

positive degree

crank

infinitive

to crank

gerund

cranking

participle

cranking

Origin and Evolution of crank

First Known Use: 0015 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'crank' originated from Middle English 'cranke' which meant a bend or twist.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'crank' evolved to also mean a device for turning or adjusting something, or a person who holds eccentric or unconventional beliefs.