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Crack vs Crank - What's the difference?

crack | crank |

In lang=en terms the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is to tell (a joke) while crank is to be running at a high level of output or effort.

In informal|lang=en terms the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is (informal) an attempt at something while crank is (informal) an advocate of a pseudoscience movement.

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is (obsolete) a boy, generally a pert, lively boy while crank is (obsolete) a sick person; an invalid.

In archaic|lang=en terms the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is (archaic) a crazy or crack-brained person while crank is (archaic) any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.

As verbs the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is (senseid)to form cracks while crank is to turn by means of a crank .

As nouns the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is (senseid)a thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material while crank is a bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.

As adjectives the difference between crack and crank

is that crack is highly trained and competent while crank is (slang) strange, weird, odd.

crack

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) crakken, craken, from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • (senseid)To form cracks.
  • It's been so dry, the ground is starting to crack .
  • To break apart under pressure.
  • When I tried to stand on the chair, it cracked .
  • To become debilitated by psychological pressure.
  • Anyone would crack after being hounded like that.
  • To break down or yield, especially under interrogation or torture.
  • When we showed him the pictures of the murder scene, he cracked .
  • To make a cracking sound.
  • The bat cracked with authority and the ball went for six.
  • (of a voice) To change rapidly in register.
  • His voice cracked with emotion.
  • (of a pubescent boy's voice) To alternate between high and low register in the process of eventually lowering.
  • His voice finally cracked when he was fourteen.
  • To make a sharply humorous comment.
  • "I would too, with a face like that," she cracked .
  • To make a crack or cracks in.
  • The ball cracked the window.
  • To break open or crush to small pieces by impact or stress.
  • You'll need a hammer to crack a black walnut.
  • To strike forcefully.
  • She cracked him over the head with her handbag.
  • To open slightly.
  • Could you please crack the window?
  • To cause to yield under interrogation or other pressure. (Figurative )
  • They managed to crack him on the third day.
  • To solve a difficult problem.
  • I've finally cracked it, and of course the answer is obvious in hindsight.
  • To overcome a security system or a component.
  • It took a minute to crack''' the lock, three minutes to '''crack''' the security system, and about twenty minutes to ' crack the safe.
    They finally cracked the code.
  • To cause to make a sharp sound.
  • to crack a whip
  • * 2001 , Doug McGuinn, The Apple Indians
  • Hershell cracked his knuckles, a nervous habit that drove Inez crazy
  • To tell (a joke).
  • The performance was fine until he cracked that dead baby joke.
  • (transitive, chemistry, informal) To break down (a complex molecule), especially with the application of heat: to pyrolyse.
  • Acetone is cracked to ketene and methane at 700°C.
  • (computing) To circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.
  • That software licence will expire tomorrow unless we can crack it.
  • (informal) To open a canned beverage, or any packaged drink or food.
  • I'd love to crack open a beer .
  • (obsolete) To brag, boast.
  • *, II.4.1.v:
  • Cardan cracks that he can cure all diseases with water alone, as Hippocrates of old did most infirmities with one medicine.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack .
  • (archaic, colloquial) To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
  • * Dryden
  • The creditof exchequers cracks , when little comes in and much goes out.
    Derived terms
    * bumcrack * crack a crib * crack a fat * crack baby * crack down * cracked * cracker * crack house * crack kills * crack of dawn * crack on * crack seed * crack up * crack whore * fall between the cracks * difficult nut to crack * hard nut to crack * tough nut to crack * what's the crack * wisecrack

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material.
  • A large crack had formed in the roadway.
  • A narrow opening.
  • We managed to squeeze through a crack in the rock wall.
    Open the door a crack .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=January 25 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Blackpool 2 - 3 Man Utd , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Dimitar Berbatov found the first cracks in the home side's resilience when he pulled one back from close range and Hernandez himself drew the visitors level with a composed finish three minutes later as Bloomfield Road's earlier jubilation turned to despair. }}
  • A sharply humorous comment; a wisecrack.
  • I didn't appreciate that crack about my hairstyle.
  • A potent, relatively cheap, addictive variety of cocaine; often a rock, usually smoked through a crack-pipe.
  • * (rfdate) :
  • I wouldn't use it, if I was going to use it I can afford real cocaine. Crack is wack.
  • (onomatopoeia) The sharp sound made when solid material breaks.
  • The crack of the falling branch could be heard for miles.
  • (onomatopoeia) Any sharp sound.
  • The crack of the bat hitting the ball.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=June 28 , author=Piers Newbery , title=Wimbledon 2011: Sabine Lisicki beats Marion Bartoli , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=She broke to love in the opening game, only for Bartoli to hit straight back in game two, which was interrupted by a huge crack of thunder that made Lisicki jump and prompted nervous laughter from the 15,000 spectators.}}
  • (informal) An attempt at something.
  • I'd like to take a crack at that game.
  • (vulgar, slang) vagina.
  • I'm so horny even the crack of dawn isn't safe!
  • (vulgar) The space between the buttocks.
  • Pull up your pants! Your crack is showing.
  • (Northern England, Scotland, Ireland) Conviviality; fun; good conversation, chat, gossip, or humourous storytelling; good company.
  • * 2001 , William F. Gray, The Villain , iUniverse, p. 214:
  • Being a native of Northumberland, she was enjoying their banter and Geordie good humour. This was what she needed — good company and good crack .
  • * 2004 , Bill Griffiths, Dictionary of North East Dialect , Northumbria University Press (quoting Dunn, 1950)
  • "his a bit o' good crack — interesting to talk to"
  • * 2006 , Patrick McCabe, Winterwood , Bloomsbury 2007, p. 10:
  • By the time we've got a good drunk on us there'll be more crack in this valley than the night I pissed on the electric fence!
    The crack was good.
    That was good crack .
    He/she is quare good crack .
    The party was great crack .
  • (Northern England, Scotland, Ireland) Business/events/news
  • What's the crack ?
  • (computing) A program or procedure designed to circumvent restrictions or usage limits on software.
  • Has anyone got a crack for DocumentWriter 3.0?
  • (Cumbria, elsewhere throughout the North of the UK) a meaningful chat.
  • (Internet slang) Extremely silly, absurd or off-the-wall ideas or prose.
  • The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Though now our voices / Have got the mannish crack .
  • (archaic) A mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity.
  • He has a crack .
  • (archaic) A crazy or crack-brained person.
  • * Addison
  • I can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack and a projector.
  • (obsolete) A boast; boasting.
  • * Burton
  • crack and brags
  • * Shakespeare
  • vainglorious cracks
  • (obsolete) Breach of chastity.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
  • * Shakespeare
  • - 'Tis a noble child.
    - A crack , madam.
  • (slang, dated, UK) A brief time; an instant; a jiffy.
  • I'll be with you in a crack .
    Usage notes
    * In the last few decades the word has been adopted into Gaelic; as there is no "k" in the Irish language the spelling (craic) has been devised.
    Synonyms
    * bum crack (UK), arse crack (UK), ass crack (US) * (cocaine that is heat-altered at the moment of inhalation) crack cocaine

    Etymology 2

    1793 slang, of origin

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Highly trained and competent.
  • Even a crack team of investigators would have trouble solving this case.
  • Excellent, first-rate, superior, top-notch.
  • She's a crack shot with that rifle.
    Derived terms
    * crack train * crack troops

    crank

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (slang) strange, weird, odd
  • sick; unwell; infirm
  • (nautical, of a ship) Liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast
  • Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
  • * Udall
  • He who was, a little before, bedrid, was now crank and lusty.
  • * Mrs. Stowe
  • If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.(rfex)
  • The act of converting power into motion, by turning a crankshaft.
  • Yes, a crank was all it needed to start .
  • (archaic) Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
  • * (rfdate) Spenser:
  • So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.
  • (informal) An ill-tempered or nasty person
  • Billy-Bob is a nasty old crank ! He chased my cat away.
  • A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
  • * Carlyle
  • Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks .
  • (informal, British, dated in US) A person who is considered strange or odd by others. They may behave in unconventional ways.
  • John is a crank because he talks to himself .
  • * 1882 January 14, in Pall Mall Gazette :
  • Persons whom the Americans since Guiteau's trial have begun to designate as ‘cranks’ —that is to say, persons of disordered mind, in whom the itch of notoriety supplies the lack of any higher ambition.
  • (informal) An advocate of a pseudoscience movement.
  • That crank next door thinks he's created cold fusion in his garage.
  • (US, slang) methamphetamine.
  • Danny got abscesses from shooting all that bathtub crank .
  • (rare) A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
  • * (rfdate) Milton:
  • Quips, and cranks , and wanton wiles.
  • (obsolete) A sick person; an invalid.
  • * Burton
  • Thou art a counterfeit crank , a cheater.
  • (slang) penis.
  • * 2013 , Reggie Chesterfield, Scoundrel (page 57)
  • It was going to be hard not to blow with a girl like her sucking on his crank .

    Synonyms

    * See also .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To turn by means of a crank .
  • Motorists had to crank their engine by hand.
  • To turn a crank .
  • He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
  • To turn.
  • He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank .
  • To cause to spin via other means, as though turned by a crank.
  • I turn the key and crank the engine; yet it doesn't turn over
    Crank it up!
  • To act in a cranky manner; to behave unreasonably and irritably, especially through complaining.
  • Quit cranking about your spilt milk!
  • To be running at a high level of output or effort.
  • By one hour into the shift, the boys were really cranking .
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (dated) To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
  • * (rfdate) :
  • See how this river comes me cranking in.

    Derived terms

    * crank axle * crank call * crankcase * crank out * crankpin * crank pin * crank shaft * crankstart * crank start * crank up * crank wheel * cranky * turn someone's crank