I. ˈkrü
chiefly British past of crow
II. ˈkrü noun
Etymology: Middle English crue, from Middle French crue reinforcement, literally, increase, from crue, feminine past participle of croistre to grow, from Latin crescere — more at crescent
Date: 15th century
1. archaic : a band or force of armed men
2.
a. : a group of people associated together in a common activity or by common traits or interests
b. : gang 1b(2)
3.
a. : a company of people working on one job or under one foreman or operating a machine
b. : the whole company belonging to a ship sometimes including the officers and master ; also : one who assists the skipper of a sailboat
c. : the persons who have duties on an aircraft in flight
d. : the rowers and coxswain of a racing shell ; also : rowing
• crew·less -ləs adjective
III. verb
Date: 1935
intransitive verb
: to act as a member of a crew
transitive verb
: to serve as a crew member on (as a ship or aircraft)