crank
n
L-shaped bar and handle for converting to-and-fro movement to circular movement (用以将往复运动变换为圆周运动的)曲柄, 曲轴
The pedals of a cycle are attached to a crank. 自行车的踏板与曲柄相连. =>illus at App 1 见附录1之插图, page xiii. crank, v [Tn, Tn.p]
~ sth (up) cause sth to turn by means of a crank 用曲柄转动某物
crank (up) an engine, ie start it with a crank 用曲柄启动发动机.
crank n (derog 贬) person with strange fixed ideas, esp on a particular subject; eccentric person 有古怪成见的人(尤指在某问题上); 有怪癖的人
a health-food crank, ie one who insists on eating unusual food for health reasons 对保健食品有偏好怪癖的人.
Do you remember one afternoon ten years ago when I came to your house and borrowed a necklace of yours? Pierre, my husband, was working in a government office. We'd been invited to a ball at the palace so I needed to borrow some jewellery.