Crick definition | Dictionary.com

crick

1 [krik]

–noun

1.	a sharp, painful spasm of the muscles, as of the neck or back.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to give a crick or wrench to (the neck, back, etc.).

Origin:
1400–50; late ME crikke, perh. akin to crick ²

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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crick

2 [krik]

–noun Northern, North Midland, and Western U.S.

creek (def. 1).

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Crick

[krik]

–noun

Francis Harry Compton, 1916–2004, English biophysicist: Nobel prize for medicine 1962.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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crick¹   (krĭk) Pronunciation Key
n.   A painful cramp or muscle spasm, as in the back or neck.
tr.v.   cricked, crick·ing, cricks
To cause a painful cramp or muscle spasm in by turning or wrenching.

[Middle English crike.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crick² (krĭk) Pronunciation Key
n. Upper Northern & Western U.S.
Variant of creek. See Regional Note at run.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Crick (krĭk) Pronunciation Key
British biologist who with James D. Watson proposed a spiral model, the double helix, for the molecular structure of DNA. He shared a 1962 Nobel Prize for advances in the study of genetics.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crick

c.1424, of uncertain origin; OED says "probably onomatopoeic," but it is difficult to imagine of what.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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crick
noun
1.	a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back ('rick' and 'wrick' are British)
2.	English biochemist who (with Watson in 1953) helped discover the helical structure of DNA (1916-2004)
verb
1.	twist (a body part) into a strained position; "crick your neck"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Crick (krĭk) Pronunciation Key

British biologist who with James D. Watson identified the structure of DNA in 1953. By analyzing the patterns cast by x-rays striking DNA molecules, they found that DNA has the structure of a double helix, consisting of two spirals linked together at the base, forming ladderlike rungs. For this work they shared the 1962 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine with Maurice Wilkins.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crick (krĭk)
n.
A painful cramp or muscle spasm, as in the back or neck. v. cricked, crick·ing, cricks
To cause a painful cramp or muscle spasm in by turning or wrenching.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Crick (krĭk), Francis Henry Compton. Born 1916.

British biologist who with James D. Watson proposed a spiral model, the double helix, for the molecular structure of DNA. He shared a 1962 Nobel Prize for advances in the study of genetics.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Main Entry: ¹crick
Pronunciation: 'krik
Function: noun
: a painful spasmodic condition of muscles (as of the neck or back)

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: ²crick
Function: transitive verb
: to cause a crick in (as the neck)

Crick

Crick\ (kr[i^]k), n. [See Creak.] The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it. [Obs.] --Johnson.

Crick

Crick\, n. [The same as creek a bending, twisting. See Creek, Crook.]

1. A painful, spasmodic affection of the muscles of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, rendering it difficult to move the part.

To those also that, with a crick or cramp, have thei necks drawn backward. --Holland.

2. [Cf. F. cric.] A small jackscrew. --Knight.

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