crank¹ / krangk/ • v. [tr.] 1. turn the crankshaft of (an internal combustion engine), typically in order to start the engine. ∎  turn (a handle), typically in order to start an engine. ∎  (crank something up) inf. increase the intensity of something: he cranked up the foghorn to full volume. ∎  (crank something out) inf. produce something regularly and routinely: an army of researchers cranked out worthy studies.2. [usu. as adj.] (cranked) give a bend to (a shaft, bar, etc.).• n. 1. a part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa.2. inf. methamphetamine.crank² • n. 1. an eccentric person, esp. one who is obsessed by a particular subject or theory. ∎  a bad-tempered person.2. poetic/lit. a fanciful turn of speech.• adj. originating from or denoting a malicious or mischievous person: she was the target of a rash of crank calls.crank³ • adj. archaic Naut. (of a sailing ship) easily keeled over, esp. by wind or sea through improper design or loading.

Crank ★★½ 2006 (R)

Mindlessly enjoyable “B” pic and proud of it. Freelance assassin Chev Chelios (Statham) learns his rival Ricky (Cantillo) has injected him with a toxin that kills if his heart rate drops too low. The only way Chev can fight the toxin is to continuously pump up his adrenaline, which leads him to rampage through LA in search of revenge, an antidote, and thrills of any kind. The premise is a variation on the 1950 noir “D.O.A.” and it actually works if you don't think about it. 87m/C DVD, Bluray Disc . US Jose Pablo Cantillo, Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, Dwight Yoakam, Carlos Sanz, Reno Wilson; D: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor; W: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor; C: Adam Biddle; M: Paul Haslinger.

crank 1 portion of an axle bent at right angles. OE. cranc in crancstæf weaver's implement, rel. to crinċan (rare), parallel to crinġan fall in battle, of which the primary meaning appears to have been ‘bend up, crook, curl up’, hence ‘shrink, give way, become weak’; cf. (M)HG., Du. krank sick, ill. Cf. CRINGE, CRINKLE.

crank 2 †bend, crook; fanciful turn of speech XVI; crotchet, whim; (orig. U.S., back-formation from CRANKY) eccentric or crotchety person XIX. prob. ult. identical with prec.

crank 3 (naut.) liable to capsize. XVII (also cranke sided). perh. to be connected with crank adj. crabbed, awkward (XVIII), infirm, shaky (XIX), and CRANK 1.