1.  crank(n = noun.person) churl, crosspatch, grouch, grump - a bad-tempered person;
is a kind of disagreeable person, unpleasant person
has particulars: crab, crabby person, fire-eater, hothead, misanthrope, misanthropist
Derived form adjective cranky₂

2.  crank(n = noun.person) crackpot, fruitcake, nut, nut case, screwball - a whimsically eccentric person;
is a kind of eccentric, eccentric person, flake, geek, oddball

3.  crank(n = noun.artifact) chalk, chicken feed, deoxyephedrine, glass, ice, meth, methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, methedrine, shabu, trash - an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant;
is a kind of amphetamine, pep pill, speed, upper, controlled substance

4.  crank(n = noun.artifact) starter - a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle;
is a kind of hand tool
has particulars: crank handle, starting handle
Derived forms verb crank₅, verb crank₃

   crank(s = adj.all) cranky, tender, tippy - (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail;

1.  crank(v = verb.motion) zigzag - travel along a zigzag path; "The river zigzags through the countryside"
is one way to go, locomote, move, travel
Sample sentences: Something ----s; Somebody ----s

2.  crank(v = verb.motion) crank up - start by cranking; "crank up the engine"
is one way to start, start up
Sample sentences: These cars won't crank

3.  crank(v = verb.contact) crank up - rotate with a crank;
is one way to circumvolve, rotate
Derived form noun crank₄
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

4.  crank(v = verb.contact) - fasten with a crank;
is one way to fasten, fix, secure
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

5.  crank(v = verb.contact) - bend into the shape of a crank;
is one way to bend, deform, flex, turn, twist
Derived form noun crank₄
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

1.  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. [1913 Webster]

2.  Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage. [1913 Webster]
"So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks." [1913 Webster]

3.  A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word. [1913 Webster]
"Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles." [1913 Webster]

4.  A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. [1913 Webster]
"Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks." [1913 Webster]

5.  A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter. [1913 Webster]

6.  A sick person; an invalid. [1913 Webster]
"Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater." [1913 Webster]

1.  Sick; infirm. [1913 Webster]

2.  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. [1913 Webster]

3.  Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated. [1913 Webster]
"He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty." [1913 Webster]
"If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it." [1913 Webster]

   To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. [1913 Webster]
"See how this river comes me cranking in." [1913 Webster]

crank, n. & v.
--n.
1 part of an axle or shaft bent at right angles for interconverting reciprocal and circular motion.
2 an elbow-shaped connection in bell-hanging.
--v.tr.
1 cause to move by means of a crank.
2 a bend into a crank-shape. b furnish or fasten with a crank.

Idiom:
crank up
1 start (a car engine) by turning a crank.
2 sl. increase (speed etc.) by intensive effort.

crank, n.
1 a an eccentric person, esp. one obsessed by a particular theory (health-food crank). b US a bad-tempered person.
2 literary a fanciful turn of speech (quips and cranks).

crank, adj. Naut. liable to capsize.

Etymology:
perh. f. crank weak, shaky, or CRANK(1)

N  instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

N  scourge, rod, cane, stick, ratan, rattan, birch, birch rod, azote, blacksnake, bullwhack, chicote, kurbash, quirt, rawhide, sjambok, rod in pickle, switch, ferule, cudgel, truncheon, whip, bullwhip, lash, strap, thong, cowhide, knout, cat, cat o'nine tails, rope's end, pillory, stocks, whipping post, cucking stool, ducking stool, brank, trebuchet, trebuket, triangle, wooden horse, iron maiden, thumbscrew, boot, rack, wheel, iron heel, chinese water torture, treadmill, crank, galleys, scaffold, block, ax, guillotine, stake, cross, gallows, gibbet, tree, drop, noose, rope, halter, bowstring, death chair, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, firing squad, mecate, house of correction, goaler, jailer, executioner, electrocutioner, lyncher, hangman, headsman, Jack Ketch.

N  wit, humor, wittiness, sense of humor, attic wit, attic salt, atticism, salt, esprit, point, fancy, whim, drollery, pleasantry, farce, buffoonery, fooling, tomfoolery, shenanigan, harlequinade, broad farce, broad humor, fun, espieglerie, vis comica, jocularity, jocosity, jocoseness, facetiousness, waggery, waggishness, whimsicality, comicality, banter, badinage, retort, repartee, smartness, ready wit, quid- pro-quo, ridicule, jest, joke, jape, jibe, facetiae, levity, quips and cranks, capital joke, canorae nugae, standing jest, standing joke, private joke, conceit, quip, quirk, crank, quiddity, concetto, plaisanterie, brilliant idea, merry thought, bright thought, happy thought, sally, flash of wit, flash of merriment, scintillation, mot, mot pour rire, witticism, smart saying, bon-mot, jeu d'esprit, epigram, jest book, dry joke, quodlibet, cream of the jest, word-play, jeu de mots, play of words, play upon words, pun, punning, double entente, double entendre, quibble, verbal quibble, conundrum, anagram, acrostic, double acrostic, trifling, idle conceit, turlupinade, old joke, tired joke, flat joke, Joe Miller, witty, attic, quick-witted, nimble-witted, smart, jocular, jocose, humorous, facetious, waggish, whimsical, kidding, joking, puckish, playful, merry and wise, pleasant, sprightly, light, spirituel, sparkling, epigrammatic, full of point, ben trovato, comic, zany, madcap, funny, amusing, jokingly, in joke, in jest, in sport, in play, adhibenda est in jocando moderatio, gentle dullness ever loves a joke, leave this keen encounter of our wits, just joking, just kidding, surely you jest!.

N  madman, lunatic, maniac, bedlamite, candidate for Bedlam, raver, madcap, crazy, energumen, automaniac, monomaniac, dipsomaniac, kleptomaniac, hypochondriac (low spirits), crank, Tom o'Bedlam, dreamer, rhapsodist, seer, highflier, enthusiast, fanatic, fanatico, exalte, knight errant, Don Quixote, idiot.

bell crank, crank call, crank handle, crank letter, crank out, crank up