noun

1. pl. cranes or crane
   1. any of a family (Gruidae) of usually large gruiform wading birds with very long legs and neck, and a long, straight bill
   2. popularly any of various unrelated birds, as herons and storks
2. any of various machines for lifting or moving heavy weights by means of a movable projecting arm or a horizontal beam traveling on an overhead support
3. any device with a swinging arm fixed on a vertical axis a fireplace crane is used for holding a kettle

Etymology: ME < OE cran: akin to Du kraan, Ger kranich < IE *gr-on < base *ger-: see crow

transitive verb, intransitive verb craned, craning cran′·ing

1. to raise or move with a crane
2. to stretch (the neck) as a crane does, as in straining to see over something