crane

A tall machine that lifts and moves very heavy things.

• The crane lifted the steel beam.
• Two cranes were working on the building site.
• A crane operator helped move the heavy equipment.

Common phrases: tower crane, crane operator, mobile crane

A large bird with a long neck and long legs, often found near water.

• A crane stood beside the lake.
• Several cranes flew over the fields.
• We watched a pair of cranes building their nest.

Common phrases: a white crane, crane migration, a nesting crane

To stretch your neck to see something more clearly.

• He craned his neck to look upstairs.
• People craned forward as the singer appeared.
• I was craning my neck to see the screen.

How to use it: crane your neck to do something (She craned her neck to see over the crowd.)

Similar words: stretch

Common phrases: crane your neck, crane forward, crane to see