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more about crank
crank |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Crank \Crank\ (kr?nk), n. [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, ``to turn, twist.'' See {Cringe}.] 1. (Mach.) A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See {Bell crank}. 2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. So many turning cranks these have so many crooks. --Spenser. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Crank \Crank\ (kr?nk), a. [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G. krank sick, weak (cf. D. krengen to careen). Cf {Crank}, n.] 1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.] 2. (Naut.) Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail. 3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. He who was a little before bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty. --Udall. If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it --Mrs. Stowe. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Crank \Crank\, v. i. [See {Crank}, n.] To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. See how this river comes me cranking in --Shak. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: crank adj : (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail [syn: {cranky}, {tender}, {tippy}] n 1: a bad-tempered person [syn: {grouch}, {grump}, {churl}, {crosspatch}] 2: a whimsically eccentric person [syn: {crackpot}, {nut}, {nutcase}, {fruitcake}, {screwball}] 3: rotating shaft with parallel handle [syn: {starter}] v 1: travel along a zigzag path: "The river zigzags through the countryside" [syn: {zigzag}] 2: start by cranking; of engines [syn: {crank up}] 3: rotate with a crank [syn: {crank up}] 4: fasten with a crank 5: bend into the shape of a crank From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: crank vt [from automotive slang] Verb used to describe the performance of a machine, especially sustained performance. "This box cranks (or, cranks at) about 6 megaflops, with a burst mode of twice that on vectorized operations." From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: crank (Automotive slang) Verb used to describe the performance of a machine, especially sustained performance. "This box cranks (or, cranks at) about 6 megaflops, with a burst mode of twice that on vectorised operations." [{Jargon File}] (1994-12-01)
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