crane
crane Lexical Profile
crane Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tall machine equipped with cables, pulleys, and a projecting arm, used to lift, lower, and move heavy construction materials or cargo.
"A massive tower crane was erected downtown to hoist steel beams for the new skyscraper."
A large, tall bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by its long legs, long neck, and a heavy bill, often found wading in wetlands.
"The elegant white crane took flight over the marsh as the sun began to set."
• verb
To stretch out one's neck or body in order to see something more clearly.
"She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the parade moving over the heads of the crowded street."
• Rhymes for crane
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'cran', from Proto-Germanic '*kran-', ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root '*gerh₂-' (to cry hoarsely). The mechanical sense arose in the late 14th century due to the machine's long, neck-like arm resembling the bird.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.