1. any of various large wading birds of the family Gruidae, having a long neck, long legs, and a long bill.
2. A similar bird, such as a heron.
3. A machine for hoisting and moving heavy objects by means of cables attached to a movable boom.
4. any of various devices with a swinging arm, as in a fireplace for suspending a pot.
5. to hoist or move with or as if with a crane.
6. to strain and stretch (the neck, for example) in order to see better.
7. to stretch one's neck toward something for a better view.
8. to be irresolute; hesitate.

1. A large bird of the order Gruiformes and the family Gruidae having long legs and a long neck which it extends when flying.
2. A mechanical lifting device, often used for lifting heavy loads for industrial or construction purposes.
3. to extend (one's neck).
4. to raise or lower with a crane.

1. A wading bird of the genus grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.
2. any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end, used for supporting a suspended weight.
3. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. in one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane see Illust. of derrick.
4. an iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.
5. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.
6. A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. see crotch, 2.
7. the american blue heron (Ardea herodias).
8. to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better.
9. to cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with up.
10. to stretch, as a crane stretches its neck.

1. to be stretched out like the neck of a crane.
2. hence in hunting, to look before one leaps; pull up at a dangerous jump.
3. to stretch or bend (the neck) like a crane: as, he craned his neck to see what was on the other side of the pillar.
4. to cause to rise as by a crane: followed by up.
5. A large grallatorial bird with very long legs and neck, a long straight bill with pervious nostrils near its middle, the head usually naked, at least in part, the hind toe elevated, and the inner secondaries usually enlarged; any bird of the family Gruidæ.
6. popularly and erroneously, one of sundry very large grallatorial birds likened to cranes, as herons and storks.
7. the constellation grus (which see).
8. same as crinet, 1.
9. A machine for moving weights, having two motions, one a direct lift and the other horizontal.
10. A machine for weighing goods, constructed on the principle of the preceding. such machines are common in market-towns in ireland. see craner.
11. an iron arm or beam attached to the back or side of a fireplace and hinged so as to be movable horizontally, used for supporting pots or kettles over a fire.
12. pl. Naut., supports of iron or timber at a vessel's side for stowing boats or spars upon.
13. A siphon or bent pipe for drawing liquor out of a cask.
14. same as cran.
15. A crane mounted upon a car and fitted to run or traverse on a railway laid upon the ground, and either self-propelling or driven by a locomotive.

1. stretch (the neck) so as to see better
2. united states poet (1899-1932)
3. united states writer (1871-1900)
4. large long-necked wading bird of marshes and plains in many parts of the world
5. lifts and moves heavy objects; lifting tackle is suspended from a pivoted boom that rotates around a vertical axis
6. a small constellation in the southern hemisphere near phoenix