crane

crane — noun

1. a large piece of equipment used on building sites, with a long pivoting boom for

1.nounB1
Definition

a large piece of equipment used on building sites, with a long pivoting boom for lifting heavy objects to high positions

Example

A large crane lifted the steel beams onto the top floor of the new hospital.

The construction company hired two cranes to move the concrete columns across the site.

collocation: operate a crane / use a crane

Common collocations
  • operate a crane
  • use a crane
  • crane operator
  • tower crane
  • mobile crane
  • crane lifts
Synonyms
  • hoist

    a device for lifting heavy goods using ropes and pulleys; cranes are larger and have a movable arm

  • derrick

    a tall framework over a deep hole used in drilling for oil or water; cranes are for general construction

  • winch

    a machine that pulls or lifts using a drum and cable; winches are smaller and less mobile than cranes

Usage Note

Frequently used with the verbs 'operate', 'use', or 'drive'. The person who controls a crane is called a 'crane operator'.

Common Mistakes

They used a crane to lift the bird.
They used a crane to lift the steel beams.
The equipment crane lifts heavy construction materials, not animals.

2. a large water bird with very long legs, a long thin neck, and a pointed beak, fo

2.nounB1
Definition

a large water bird with very long legs, a long thin neck, and a pointed beak, found in wetland areas such as marshes, lakes, and river deltas

Example

A pair of cranes built their nest near the edge of the lake last spring.

collocation: a pair of cranes

Putri watched the tall crane wading slowly through the shallow water looking for food.

Common collocations
  • flock of cranes
  • pair of cranes
  • crane migration
  • crane dance
  • whooping crane
  • sandhill crane
Synonyms
  • heron

    a similar-looking long-legged water bird; herons fold their necks in flight while cranes keep theirs straight

  • stork

    a long-legged bird with a heavier beak; storks often build nests on rooftops and chimneys

Usage Note

Cranes are often confused with herons. Cranes fly with their necks stretched straight out, while herons fly with their necks folded back into an S-shape.

Common Mistakes

A crane is the same as a heron.
Cranes and herons are different bird families.
Cranes belong to the family Gruidae; herons belong to the family Ardeidae.

3. Harold Hart Crane (1899–1932), an American modernist poet whose work is known fo

3.noun
Definition

Harold Hart Crane (1899–1932), an American modernist poet whose work is known for its complex language and imagery, best known for the long poem The Bridge

Example

Students of American literature often study Hart Crane's long poem The Bridge.

modernist poetry; work: The Bridge

Hart Crane struggled with personal difficulties throughout his short life as a poet.

Usage Note

The name 'Hart Crane' is most commonly encountered in literary studies and discussions of American modernist poetry.

4. Stephen Crane (1871–1900), an American writer and journalist, best known for his

4.noun
Definition

Stephen Crane (1871–1900), an American writer and journalist, best known for his novel The Red Badge of Courage about the American Civil War

Example

Stephen Crane wrote The Red Badge of Courage, a novel read in high school English classes.

famous novel: The Red Badge of Courage

The American writer Stephen Crane also worked as a war correspondent in Cuba and Greece.

Usage Note

Stephen Crane is known for his naturalist writing style. Despite dying at age 28, he produced several influential novels and short stories.

5. Walter Crane (1845–1915), an English artist and book illustrator, known for his

5.noun
Definition

Walter Crane (1845–1915), an English artist and book illustrator, known for his colourful children's book illustrations and his work in the Arts and Crafts movement

Example

Walter Crane created colourful illustrations for many children's books in the Victorian era.

Arts and Crafts movement illustrator

The art of Walter Crane influenced the design of wallpaper and household objects in England.

Usage Note

Walter Crane is studied in art history courses on illustration and the decorative arts of the late 19th century.

crane — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe equipment for moving heavy objects. A crane is a tall machine with a long swinging arm, common on construction sites for lifting steel beams or concrete to high floors. A hoist is a simpler device that uses ropes and pulleys, typically fixed in place and found in warehouses or factories. A derrick is a tall framework used mainly in oil drilling, where the load moves vertically over a deep well. A winch is a drum-and-cable mechanism that pulls or lifts horizontally or vertically, often mounted on a truck for towing. A lift is the most general term and can refer to a platform inside a building (elevator) or a basic raising device. For example, a factory uses a hoist to lift crates, an oil rig uses a derrick, a tow truck uses a winch, and a building site uses a crane.

hoistderrickwinch ↗lift ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word comes from Old English 'cran', the name of the bird. The construction machine was given this name in the 15th century because its long arm and tall posture reminded people of the bird stretching its neck.