n. & v.
--n.
1. a machine for moving heavy objects, usu. by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam.
2 any tall wading bird of the family Gruidae, with long legs, long neck, and straight bill.
3 a moving platform supporting a television camera or cine-camera.
--v.tr.
1. (also absol.) stretch out (one's neck) in order to see something.
2 tr. move (an object) by a crane.
Phrases and idioms:
crane-fly (pl. -flies) any fly of the family Tipulidae, having two wings and long legs: also called daddy-long-legs.
Etymology: OE cran, rel. to L grus, Gk geranos