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Definition of crankshaft

crankshaft

/ˈkræŋk.ʃæft/
crank · shaft
Plural:crankshafts
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crankshaft Lexical Profile

crankshaft Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A mechanical shaft driven by or driving a crank, commonly used in internal combustion engines to convert the reciprocating linear motion of the pistons into rotational motion.

Example

"The mechanic discovered that the engine failure was caused by a cracked crankshaft."

• Nearby Words

crane
cranesbill
crank
crankshaft
crape myrtle
crappie
crate

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 19th century: a compound of 'crank' and 'shaft', describing the series of crankpins and webs positioned along a rotating axle.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Crankshaft. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/crankshaft
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