crank
1 of 5noun
ˈkraŋk 
1
: a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa
2
a
archaic : bend
b
: a twist or turn of speech : conceit —used especially in the phrase quips and cranks
c(1)
: caprice, crotchet
(2)
: an annoyingly eccentric person
also : one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity
d
: a bad-tempered person : grouch
3
: crystal meth
specifically : an impure form of crystal meth
crankish
ˈkraŋ-kish
adjective crank
2 of 5verb
cranked; cranking; cranks
intransitive verb
1
: to move with a winding course : zigzag
2
a
: to turn a crank
b
: to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank
c
: to gain speed, momentum, or intensity —usually used with up
the campaign is cranking up
transitive verb
1
: to move or operate by or as if by a crank
crank the window down
2
a
: to cause to start
crank an automobile
b
: to rotate the shaft (such as a crankshaft) of especially with a starter
crank over an engine
c
: to use in trying to start an engine
crank the starter
3
a
: to start as if by use of a crank —usually used with up
she cranked up the air conditioner
b
: turn up sense 2 —usually used with up
crank up the volume
crank
3 of 5adjective (1)
: of, relating to, or being a bad-tempered or annoyingly eccentric person
also : made or sent by such a person or by someone intending to be an annoyance or to cause harm
crank calls
a crank letter
crank
4 of 5adjective (2)
1
chiefly dialectal : merry, high-spirited
2
chiefly dialectal : cocky, confident
crank
5 of 5adjective (3)
of a boat
: easily tipped : tender entry 1 sense 4d
Synonyms
Noun
- character
- codger
- crack
- crackbrain
- crackpot
- eccentric
- flake
- fruitcake
- head case
- kook
- nut
- nutcase
- nutter [British slang]
- oddball
- oddity
- original
- quiz
- screwball
- weirdo
- zany
Verb
- activate
- actuate
- drive
- move
- run
- set off
- spark
- start
- touch off
- trigger
- turn on
Adjective (2)
- cock-a-hoop
- crowing
- exultant
- exulting
- glorying
- jubilant
- prideful
- proud
- rejoicing
- triumphant
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun To open the car window, turn the crank on the door. He was dismissed as a crank until his article was published. Most people think she's just a harmless crank. Verb He cranked the temperature to 75 degrees. Crank the engine to see if it will start.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); probably akin to Middle High German krank weak, sick — more at cringe
Adjective (2)
Middle English cranke
Adjective (3)
short for crank-sided easily tipped
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Adjective (1)
1924, in the meaning defined above
Adjective (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective (3)
circa 1649, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing crank
Kids Definition
crank 1 of 2
noun
ˈkraŋk
1
: a bent part with a handle that is turned to start or run machinery
2
: a person with strange ideas
3
: a cross or irritable person
crank
2 of 2verb
cranked; cranking
1
: to start or run by or as if by turning a part with a handle
2
: to make or become greater in speed or intensity
crank the volume
Medical Definition
crank
noun
ˈkraŋk
: crystal meth
specifically : an impure form of crystal meth
cranks 1 of 2
noun
1
as in eccentrics
a person of odd or whimsical habits she's a bit of a crank, but still a good-hearted person Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- eccentrics
- nuts
- crackpots
- kooks
- screwballs
- originals
- oddballs
- mavericks
- characters
- nutters
- flakes
- weirdos
- zanies
- codgers
- fruitcakes
- freaks
- nutcases
- bohemians
- rarities
- odd ducks
- cracks
- oddities
- head cases
- crackbrains
- quizzes
- nonconformists
- quixotes
- pieces of work
- geezers
- coots
- curios
- fantasts
- fantasticoes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- followers
- sheep
- conformists
- conformers
2
as in complainers
an irritable and complaining person he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee Synonyms & Similar Words
- complainers
- crabs
- bears
- mutterers
- grousers
- curmudgeons
- grouches
- grumps
- hunks
- gripers
- sourpusses
- murmurers
- grumblers
- croakers
- whiners
- kickers
- growlers
- soreheads
- fussers
- bellyachers
- defeatists
- crosspatches
- malcontents
- killjoys
- quibblers
- grinches
- spoilsports
- nitpickers
- naggers
- party poopers
- crocks
- pessimists
- hypochondriacs
- faultfinders
- objectors
- repiners
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- optimists
- happy campers
- Pollyannas
3
as in whims
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action his endless and unpredictable cranks made spending time with him exhausting Synonyms & Similar Words
- whims
- notions
- freaks
- caprices
- bees
- maggots
- whimsies
- megrims
- vagaries
- fancies
- thoughts
- pictures
- kinks
- fantasies
- vagrancies
- humors
- whimsicalities
- bees in one's bonnet
- whimseys
- impressions
- concepts
- images
- impetuosities
- conceits
- conceptions
- phantasies
- brainstorms
- inspirations
- mind's eyes
cranks
2 of 2verb
as in coils
Synonyms & Similar Words
- coils
- winds
- reels
- screws
- pivots
- wheels
- spins
- twiddles
- swivels
- circulates
- turns
- rotates
- unscrews
- swirls
- whirls
- swings
- twists
- revolves
- rolls
- twirls