crank

Crank is a term with several related but distinct senses in English. It can denote a mechanical lever or a component that converts rotary motion into linear motion, a handle used to operate a device by hand, or more broadly something used to apply leverage. In engineering, the crank is closely associated with the crankshaft, a shaft with offset crankpins that converts the linear motion of pistons into rotational motion, and with hand cranks used on wheels, winches, or doors.

As a noun describing a person, a "crank" is an eccentric or irritable individual; the term is often used affectionately or pejoratively to refer to someone who is cranky or out of step with prevailing views.

In slang, "crank" refers to methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant. The term is widely used in North American drug culture and media coverage; other informal names include "crystal" and "meth."

In popular culture, Crank is the title of a 2006 action thriller film starring Jason Statham, in which the protagonist is poisoned with a toxin that requires him to maintain a rapid pace of activity to stay alive. A sequel, Crank: High Voltage, followed in 2009.

Other uses include the verb sense to crank something, meaning to turn it with a crank, or to increase, intensify, or speed up, as in "crank up the volume."