crane

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /kɹeɪn/ UK /kɹeɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #3866

Meanings

1

noun
a tall machine with a projecting arm, used to lift and move heavy objects

A tower crane lifted the steel beam onto the roof.
2

noun
a large, long-legged and long-necked bird of the family Gruidae

A crane stood motionless in the marsh before taking flight.
3

verb
to stretch one's neck or body in order to see something

The children craned their necks to watch the parade.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a tall machine with a... lifting cranederrick hoist

2 noun · a large, long-legged and... crane bird

3 verb · to stretch one's neck or... stretch peer

Word family

Forms cranedcranescraning

Derived forms aircranecraneablecranemancranewayhelicraneminicraneskycrane

Related forms egret heron stork

Common collocations

crane fly Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English crane and Old English cran, from a Proto-Germanic name for the long-necked bird, probably imitative of its hoarse cry. The lifting machine was named for its resemblance to the bird's long neck and bill; the verb likewise evokes extending the neck.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# crane

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kɹeɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /kɹeɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 3866

## Meanings
1. a tall machine with a projecting arm, used to lift and move heavy objects
2. a large, long-legged and long-necked bird of the family Gruidae
3. to stretch one's neck or body in order to see something

## Examples
- A tower crane lifted the steel beam onto the roof.
- A crane stood motionless in the marsh before taking flight.
- The children craned their necks to watch the parade.

## Synonyms
- derrick
- hoist

## Derived Forms
- aircrane
- craneable
- craneman
- craneway
- helicrane
- minicrane
- skycrane

## Related Forms
- egret
- heron
- stork

## Etymology
From Middle English crane and Old English cran, from a Proto-Germanic name for the long-necked bird, probably imitative of its hoarse cry. The lifting machine was named for its resemblance to the bird's long neck and bill; the verb likewise evokes extending the neck.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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