crane

¹

[ kreyn ]

noun

1. any large wading bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by long legs, bill, and neck and an elevated hind toe.
2. (not used scientifically) any of various similar birds of other families, as the great blue heron.
3. Machinery. a device for lifting and moving heavy weights in suspension.
4. any of various similar devices, as a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace, used for suspending pots over the fire.
5. Movies, Television. a vehicle having a long boom on which a camera can be mounted for taking shots from high angles.
6. Nautical. any of a number of supports for a boat or spare spar on the deck or at the side of a vessel.
7. Crane, Astronomy. the constellation Grus.

verb (used with object)

, craned, cran·ing.

1. to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane.
2. to stretch (the neck) as a crane does.

verb (used without object)

, craned, cran·ing.

1. to stretch out one's neck, especially to see better.
2. to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc.

Crane

²

[ kreyn ]

noun

1. (Harold) Hart, 1899–1932, U.S. poet.
2. Stephen, 1871–1900, U.S. novelist, poet, and short-story writer.

Crane

¹

/ kreɪn /

noun

1. Crane(Harold) Hart18991932MUSWRITING: poet ( Harold ) Hart. 1899–1932, US poet; author of The Bridge (1930)
2. CraneStephen18711900MUSWRITING: novelistWRITING: short-story writer Stephen. 1871–1900, US novelist and short-story writer, noted particularly for his novel The Red Badge of Courage (1895)
3. CraneWalter18451915MBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: painterARTS AND CRAFTS: illustrator of children's booksARTS AND CRAFTS: textile designerARTS AND CRAFTS: wallpaper designer Walter. 1845–1915, British painter, illustrator of children's books, and designer of textiles and wallpaper

crane

²

/ kreɪn /

noun

1. any large long-necked long-legged wading bird of the family Gruidae, inhabiting marshes and plains in most parts of the world except South America, New Zealand, and Indonesia: order Gruiformes See also demoiselle whooping crane
2. not in ornithological use any similar bird, such as a heron
3. a device for lifting and moving heavy objects, typically consisting of a moving boom, beam, or gantry from which lifting gear is suspended See also gantry
4. films a large trolley carrying a boom, on the end of which is mounted a camera

verb

1. tr to lift or move (an object) by or as if by a crane
2. to stretch out (esp the neck), as to see over other people's heads
3. intr (of a horse) to pull up short before a jump

Word History and Origins

Origin of crane¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English cran; cognate with German Kran, Greek géranos

Word History and Origins

Origin of crane¹

Old English cran; related to Middle High German krane, Latin grūs, Greek géranos

Example Sentences

Footage from ABC7 News helicopters showed amusement park staff using a crane to perform repairs on the malfunctioning ride at around 3:30 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Defensive teammates watching on the sideline crane their necks toward the big screen.

From Los Angeles Times

I secretly loved how the flower craned skyward, never quick to diminish its presence, what I considered its sharp elegance.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they are grabbed by giant claw cranes that smash down through the windscreen and lift the vehicles away.

From BBC

Two years earlier, on Pico Boulevard, a crane holding a billboard toppled over and chaos ensued.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cover
• develop
• draw
• expand
• fill
• go
• grow
• lengthen
• open
• pull
• reach
• run
• span
• spread
• strain
• swell
• unfold
• widen