noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:K R AE1 NG K SH AE2 F T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A rotating shaft with throws (parts that stick out) and which drives, is driven by (cranked by), or functions as a crank.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: shaft, component, part
2
verb
Meaning 2
To deform in such a manner that part of the rod or bolt is displaced sideways, offset from the longitudinal axis of the part, but remains parallel with the part's main longitudinal axis, with the final shape somewhat resembling a crankshaft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a rotating shaft driven by (or driving) a crank
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rotating shaft, shaft
History
Etymology
From crank + shaft.
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
krukas
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Arabic:
عَمُود الْمِرْفَق
(ʕamūd al-mirfaq)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Armenian:
ծնկաձեւ լիսեռ
(cnkajew liseṙ)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Bulgarian:
колянов вал
(koljanov val)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Catalan:
cigonyal
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Chinese Mandarin:
曲軸 /曲轴
(qūzhóu)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Czech:
kliková hřídel
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Danish:
krumtapaksel
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Dutch:
krukas
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Finnish:
kampiakseli
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
French:
vilebrequin
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Galician:
cigüeñal
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
German:
Kurbelwelle
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Greek:
στροφαλοφόρος άξονας
(strofalofóros áxonas)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Hebrew:
גַּל אַרְכֻּבָּה
(gal arkuba)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Hungarian:
főtengely
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Hungarian:
forgattyústengely
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Indonesian:
poros engkol
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Indonesian:
bandul
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Indonesian:
kruk as
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Italian:
albero a gomiti
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Japanese:
クランクシャフト
(kurankushafuto)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Kazakh:
иінді білік
(iındı bılık)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Lithuanian:
alkūninis velenas
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Macedonian:
коле́несто вра́тило
(kolénesto vrátilo)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Norwegian Bokmål:
veivaksel
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Norwegian Nynorsk:
veivaksel
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Norwegian Nynorsk:
veivaksling
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Polish:
wał korbowy
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Portuguese:
virabrequim
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Portuguese:
cambota
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Romanian:
arbore cotit
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Romanian:
vilbrochen
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Russian:
коле́нчатый вал
(kolénčatyj val)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Russian:
коленва́л
(kolenvál)
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Serbo-Croatian:
koljeničasta osovina
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Spanish:
cigüeñal
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Swedish:
vevaxel
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Tagalog:
sikaran
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Tagalog:
tandos-sikaran
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Turkish:
krank mili
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Welsh:
crancsiafft
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
Welsh:
crancwerthyd
— rotating shaft that drives a crank
