crane: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1-B2Neutral; formal for technical usage.
Quick answer
What does “crane” mean?
A tall, long-legged wading bird with a long neck and bill.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, long-legged wading bird with a long neck and bill; also a large machine for lifting heavy objects.
In engineering: a moving, projecting structure for lifting. In writing/film: a shot taken from an elevated position. The verb meaning: to stretch out (one's neck) to see something, often cautiously.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Both use both the bird and machine senses identically. The verb 'to crane one's neck' is equally common.
Connotations
In both dialects, the bird can connote elegance, patience, or a wetland ecosystem. The machine connotes construction, heavy industry, and engineering prowess.
Frequency
The machine sense is likely more frequent in everyday conversation in industrialised contexts, while the bird sense is more common in nature-related contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crane” in a Sentence
[crane] + [noun] (e.g., crane operator)[verb] + [crane] + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., use a crane for lifting)crane + one's + neck (verb)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crane” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She craned her neck to see over the crowd at the parade.
- The spectators craned forward to catch a glimpse of the royal carriage.
American English
- He craned his neck to look up at the top of the skyscraper.
- Everyone craned to see the accident on the interstate.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The word 'crane' does not function as an adverb.)
American English
- N/A (The word 'crane' does not function as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (Not standard; 'crane' is not used as a standalone adjective. Attributive use exists: 'crane fly').
American English
- N/A (Not standard; 'crane' is not used as a standalone adjective. Attributive use exists: 'crane operator').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in construction, logistics, and shipping industries to refer to lifting equipment.
Academic
Appears in biology (ornithology) and engineering/architecture texts.
Everyday
Common for describing large construction equipment or the action of stretching to see.
Technical
Specific terms like 'jib crane', 'gantry crane', 'crane load chart'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crane”
- Using 'crane' to mean any tall machine (e.g., a pylon is not a crane).
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'He craned to see' (needs an object: 'He craned his neck to see').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a noun (bird or machine), but it is also a verb meaning 'to stretch out one's neck'.
The machine is named after the bird due to its resemblance to the bird's long neck and legs, which look like the machine's lifting arm and supports.
A crane typically moves loads horizontally as well as vertically, often on a rotating platform. A hoist is a simpler device for vertical lifting only, often part of a crane's mechanism.
Not on its own. It is used attributively in compound nouns like 'crane operator' or 'crane fly', functioning as a noun modifier.
A tall, long-legged wading bird with a long neck and bill.
Crane is usually neutral; formal for technical usage. in register.
Crane: in British English it is pronounced /kreɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /kreɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crane one's neck”
- “crane shot (cinematography)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A CRANE is a bird with a long neck, and a CRANE is a machine with a long 'neck' (arm) that lifts things.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NECK/ARM IS A LIFTING TOOL (The machine's arm is metaphorically derived from the bird's long, extended neck).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a correct use of 'crane'?