<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>Any of several types of arms or levers for imparting rotary or oscillatory motion to a rotating shaft.</li><li>An ill-tempered, grouchy person.</li><li>An unbalanced person who is overzealous in the advocacy of a private cause.</li><li>An eccentric or whimsical notion.</li><li>A strikingly clever turn of speech or play on words.</li><li>A bend; turn (archaic).</li><li>The nasal decongestant propylhexedrine, used illicitly for its euphoric effects (slang).</li><li>A crankshaft (automotive slang).</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>To bend into or make in the shape of a crank.</li><li>To furnish with a crank.</li><li>To rotate (a shaft) by means of a crank.</li><li>To start (an internal-combustion engine) by turning the crankshaft manually or by means of a small motor.</li><li>To start the engine of (a motor vehicle) by turning the crankshaft manually.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>To turn a crank, as in starting an automobile engine.</li><li>To turn and twist; zigzag (obsolete).</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>Unstable; shaky; unsteady.</li><li>Of, relating to, or by an unbalanced or overzealous person: a crank phone call; crank mail.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb Phrase</strong></p><ul><li>To make or produce in a mass-production, effortless, or mechanical way.</li><li>To incorporate as an integral part.</li><li>To cause to diminish or terminate.</li><li>To get started or ready (informal).</li><li>To stimulate, activate, or produce.</li><li>To increase one's efforts, output, etc.</li></ul>