| 释义 |
crank
I. \ˈkraŋk, -raiŋk\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English cranke, from Old English cranc- (as in crancstæf, a weaving instrument); akin to Old High German krankolōn to stumble, become weak, Middle High German kranc weak, Old English crincan to fall in battle, Old English cradol cradle — more at cradle
1. : a part of an axis bent at right angles: as
a.
(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 it or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa — see bell crank
(2) : disk crank
b. : an elbow-shaped brace, bracket, or support
c. : a machine consisting of a disk that can be revolved by hand with some effort and that was formerly used as a means of disciplinary exercise in prisons
d. : a fireclay stand (as in glost firing)
2. : something crooked or out of line: as
a. archaic : a bend, turn, or winding (as in a road, channel, path)
b. : a twist or turn of speech : a conceit consisting of a fantastic change of the form or meaning of a word — used especially in the phrase quips and cranks
c.
(1) : a fantastic, fanciful, or impractical turn of mind or action : whim
< a man subject to unpredictable cranks >
(2) : a person with a fanciful, impractical, or crackbrained obsession or project : one overenthusiastic or overly active and attentive in some particular field or activity
< crank adherents of a lost cause >
< a gun crank >
< crank letters >
< a crank on the subject of tax reform >
d. : a bad-tempered often quarrelsome person : grouch, crosspatch
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
intransitive verb
1. : to run or move with a winding course : wind and turn : zigzag
< the river comes cranking into the town >
< the hare cranked and doubled >
2. : to turn a crank (as in starting an automobile engine)
transitive verb
1. : to bend into the shape of a crank : bend back or down
2. : to furnish or fasten with a crank
3. : to move or operate by a crank : start or attempt to start (an engine) by use of a crank — often used with up
III. adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: probably from crank (I)
1. now chiefly Scotland
a. : distorted, bent
< a crank tree trunk >
b. : awkward, difficult
< a crank word to pronounce >
2. : out of kilter : working with difficulty : loose
< crank machinery >
IV. noun
(-s)
Etymology: perhaps from crank (I); from the creaking sound made by a windlass
: a grating or creaking sound
V. intransitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to make a creaking or raucous sound
VI. adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English cranke
1. obsolete : lusty, vigorous
2. now dialect
a. : merry, high-spirited
b. : inclined to exult : cocky, confident
VII. adverb
obsolete : lustily, vigorously, boldly
VIII. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Dutch or Low German kranke sick person, from krank sick, from Middle Dutch cranc and Middle Low German krank sick, weak; akin to Middle High German kranc weak — more at crank I
obsolete : a person who pretends to have epilepsy in order to get sympathy and money
IX. adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: short for crank-sided
: very easily tipped by any external force (as that of the wind on the sails) — used of a boat; compare steady, stiff
X. noun
: crystal herein
XI. transitive verb
1. : to start as if by use of a crank — usually used with up
< she cranked up the air-conditioner >
2. : to turn up (sense 3) — usually used with up
< crank up the stereo >
intransitive verb
: to gain speed, momentum, or intensity — usually used with up
< the campaign is cranking up > |