crank
crank — 名詞
- cranksingular
- cranksplural
1. A person whose ideas or behavior seem so odd or unusual that other people do not
怪人
思想行為古怪、不被認真看待的人
A person whose ideas or behavior seem so odd or unusual that other people do not take them seriously.
The old man who writes to the newspaper about alien invasions is dismissed as a harmless crank.
那位經常寫信給報社、提到外星人入侵的老先生，被大家當成無害的怪人。
dismissed as a harmless crank
Some people called the inventor a crank, but his designs later proved to be ahead of their time.
有些人稱那位發明家是怪人，但他的設計後來被證明領先時代。
The local library gets at least one crank call a week from someone reporting a conspiracy.
那間公立圖書館每星期至少接到一通怪人打來的陰謀論電話。
The city council learned to ignore the cranks who showed up to every meeting with wild accusations.
市議會學會不理會那些每次會議都帶著離譜指控出現的怪人。
- eccentric
more neutral, less dismissive
- oddball
informal, often affectionate
- conspiracy theorist
more specific — someone who believes in hidden plots
文法句型
a + crank
the + crank + of + place
用法筆記
Often carries a dismissive tone — calling someone a crank implies their views lack credibility. The compound 'crank call' (a prank or nuisance phone call) derives from this sense.
常見錯誤
2. Someone who is habitually irritable and easily annoyed, often complaining about
易怒者
性情暴躁、對小事容易發脾氣的人
Someone who is habitually irritable and easily annoyed, often complaining about small things.
The old ticket collector was a bit of a crank and would scold passengers who asked questions.
那位老售票員有點暴躁，會責罵問問題的乘客。
a bit of a crank
Aunt Rosa turns into a real crank whenever she misses her afternoon cup of tea.
Rosa 阿姨只要錯過下午茶時間，就會變成一個暴躁的人。
turns into a real crank
Nobody wanted to share a taxi with the crank who complained all the way to the airport.
沒有人想和那個一路上抱怨到機場的暴躁鬼共乘計程車。
The night-shift nurse was known as a crank until she had her first coffee break.
護理站的夜班護士在喝第一杯咖啡之前，是出了名的愛發脾氣。
- grouch
more informal, often light-hearted
- grump
similar meaning, slightly milder
- curmudgeon
more formal, describes an older irritable person
文法句型
a + crank
turn into a crank
用法筆記
Can be used affectionately ('the old crank next door') when the irritability is seen as a familiar quirk rather than a serious flaw.
常見錯誤
3. A bent metal arm or handle that you rotate to operate a machine, converting push
曲柄
將往復運動轉為旋轉運動的L形機械零件
A bent metal arm or handle that you rotate to operate a machine, converting push-pull motion into spinning motion and back again.
The mechanic turned the crank to lift the heavy engine out of the car body.
技師轉動曲柄，將沉重的引擎從車身中吊起。
turned the crank
On old steam trains, the driver had to pull a long crank to open the boiler door.
在老式蒸汽火車上，司機必須拉動一根長曲柄才能打開鍋爐門。
The bicycle pedals are attached to a crank that transfers power to the rear wheel.
自行車踏板連接在一根曲柄上，把動力傳遞到後輪。
A hand crank on the side of the emergency radio generates electricity when you turn it.
緊急收音機側面的手搖曲柄，轉動時就能發電。
文法句型
a + crank
turn + a + crank
用法筆記
The crank is a fundamental mechanical component found in engines, bicycles, pumps, and hand-operated devices. A 'crankshaft' is the larger shaft that multiple cranks attach to in an engine.
4. A crystallized, highly addictive form of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine,
冰毒
一種甲基安非他命形式的非法興奮劑
A crystallized, highly addictive form of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine, typically smoked or injected.
Police shut down three houses where crank was being made and sold in the neighborhood.
警方在社區裡破獲了三間製造和販賣冰毒的房屋。
crank was being made and sold
The documentary followed the stories of families destroyed by crank addiction in rural towns.
這部紀錄片記錄了偏遠小鎮中，家庭因冰毒成癮而破碎的故事。
crank addiction
Doctors warned that crank users face a high risk of overdose because the drug is very strong.
醫生警告說，冰毒使用者面臨很高的用藥過量風險，因為這種毒品藥效極強。
Undercover officers bought a bag of crank from a dealer at a gas station parking lot.
便衣警察在加油站停車場，從一名毒販手中買了一袋冰毒。
- meth
shorter, more common term
- crystal meth
less informal, clearer for non-native speakers
- speed
broader — can refer to various amphetamines
文法句型
use + crank
be addicted to + crank
sell + crank
用法筆記
Regional slang term, most common in American English. 'Crystal meth' or simply 'meth' are more widely understood alternatives.
crank — 動詞
- crankpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cranks3rd person singular
- cranking-ing form
- crankedpast simple
1. To operate a device by rotating its crank or handle, or to move something by wor
轉動
轉動曲柄或把手來操作機器
To operate a device by rotating its crank or handle, or to move something by working its crank mechanism.
The firefighter cranked the valve to release water from the hydrant onto the street.
消防員轉動閥門，將水從消防栓釋放到街上。
cranked the valve
The bus driver cranked the side window open to let in fresh air.
公車司機轉動側邊車窗把手，讓新鮮空氣進來。
cranked the side window open
The groundskeeper cranked at the old iron gate until the rusted lock finally gave way.
管理員用力轉動那扇舊鐵門，直到生鏽的鎖終於鬆開。
The soldier cranked the field radio handle to generate enough power for a signal.
士兵轉動野戰無線電的把手，以產生足夠的通訊電力。
文法句型
crank + object
crank at/on something
用法筆記
Often followed by 'up' (crank up the window) or 'down' (crank down the screen). In informal American English, 'crank up' also means to increase volume or intensity — but that is a different sense.
常見錯誤
2. To make an engine begin running by rotating a crank or activating the starter me
發動
轉動搖柄或啟動馬達來發動引擎
To make an engine begin running by rotating a crank or activating the starter mechanism, particularly with older vehicles or machinery.
The driver cranked the old truck's engine three times before it finally roared to life.
司機發動了舊卡車的引擎三次，引擎才終於轟隆作響地啟動。
cranked the old truck's engine
Before electric starters were invented, drivers had to crank their cars by hand just to get going.
在電動啟動器發明之前，駕駛必須用手搖動曲柄來發動汽車。
The pilot cranked the propeller of the small aircraft to start the motor for takeoff.
飛行員轉動小飛機的螺旋槳，發動引擎準備起飛。
The farmer cranked the tractor engine on a freezing morning and waited for the diesel to warm up.
農夫在寒冷的早晨轉動曲柄發動曳引機，等待柴油引擎熱起來。
文法句型
crank + engine
crank + motor
用法筆記
Has become less common with modern vehicles that use electric starters. Now most often used about vintage cars, boats, aircraft, or farm machinery.
常見錯誤
3. To move, extend, or travel in a winding, twisting, or zigzag manner rather than
曲折行進
以彎曲或不規則的路線行進
To move, extend, or travel in a winding, twisting, or zigzag manner rather than a straight line.
The narrow hiking trail cranked up the mountainside through a thick pine forest.
那條狹窄的登山步道蜿蜒而上，穿過茂密的松林。
trail cranked up the mountainside
The river cranked back and forth across the valley floor through several small villages.
那條河在谷地之間彎彎曲曲地流過好幾個小村莊。
river cranked back and forth
The country road cranks sharply to the left just before the old stone bridge.
這條鄉間道路在舊石橋前不遠處，突然向左急轉。
文法句型
path/road + cranks + direction
crank + through/across
用法筆記
Uncommon in everyday speech. Most speakers use 'wind', 'twist', or 'zigzag' instead. Typically describes roads, rivers, paths, or something moving irregularly.
crank — 形容詞
- crankpositive
- crankercomparative
- crankestsuperlative
1. Describes a boat that tilts or tips over very easily, especially in windy condit
易傾的
船隻在水上容易傾斜的
Describes a boat that tilts or tips over very easily, especially in windy conditions or when weight shifts on board.
The small sailing dinghy felt very crank in the afternoon gusts, so the captain ordered everyone to sit low.
那艘小帆船在午後的陣風中感覺非常不穩，船長於是命令大家坐低。
felt very crank in the afternoon gusts
These racing yachts are designed to be deliberately crank so they can turn fast in light wind.
這些競賽用遊艇刻意設計得比較容易傾斜，以便在微風中快速轉向。
deliberately crank
The old sailor warned the children that the wooden rowboat was too crank to take out in rough weather.
老水手警告孩子們，那艘木划艇太不穩了，不能在惡劣天氣中出海。
文法句型
boat + is + crank
feel + crank
用法筆記
A specialist term used among sailors and boat designers. In general English, 'unstable' or 'tippy' would be more widely understood.