[kreyn] 
noun, verb, craned, cran⋅ing.| 1. | any large wading bird of the family Gruidae, characterized by long legs, bill, and neck and an elevated hind toe. |
| 2. | (not used scientifically) any of various similar birds of other families, as the great blue heron. |
| 3. | Machinery. a device for lifting and moving heavy weights in suspension. |
| 4. | any of various similar devices, as a horizontally swinging arm by a fireplace, used for suspending pots over the fire. |
| 5. | Movies, Television. a vehicle having a long boom on which a camera can be mounted for taking shots from high angles. |
| 6. | Nautical. any of a number of supports for a boat or spare spar on the deck or at the side of a vessel. |
| 7. | (initial capital letter ) Astronomy. the constellation Grus. |
| 8. | to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane. |
| 9. | to stretch (the neck) as a crane does. |
| 10. | to stretch out one's neck, esp. to see better. |
| 11. | to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc. |
| crane (krān) n.
v. tr.
[Middle English, from Old English cran; see gerə-2 in Indo-European roots.] |