cranny

American  

[kran-ee] / ˈkræn i /

noun

plural

crannies

1. a small, narrow opening in a wall, rock, etc.; chink; crevice; fissure.

   They searched every nook and cranny for the missing ring.

2. a small out-of-the-way place or obscure corner; nook.

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cranny British  

/ ˈkrænɪ /

noun

1. a narrow opening, as in a wall or rock face; chink; crevice (esp in the phrase every nook and cranny )

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cranny Idioms  

1. see nook and cranny.

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Other Word Forms

• crannied adjective

Etymology

Origin of cranny

1400–50; late Middle English crany, perhaps < Middle French crené, past participle of crener to notch, groove; crenel

Example Sentences

The film makes fantastic use of its single shooting location, tucking horror into every last nook and cranny of this potentially haunted house.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Cooper has a reputation in government as being a proper expert in her brief, having studied every nook and cranny of the department as chair of the Home Affairs Committee and as shadow home secretary.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2025

So rather than try to tackle every nook and cranny of the district, encompassing roughly 650,000 residents, West Valley decided to use a more targeted approach.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2024

In less time than it takes to say “arachnophobia,” it will escape, reproduce like a bandit and send its deadly progeny scampering into every unsealed nook and cranny.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024

They go from room to room, looking in every nook and cranny.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez