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crankcase

crankcase

1 8.1
The part inside an engine that holds the main turning shaft
  • noun
  • /ˈkræŋkˌkeɪs/
  • Specialized
: cárter
  • Can't even start the engine with a split crankcase.
  • crankcase oil
  • crankcase ventilation
  • engine crankcase

Examples

  • Down here there's the crankcase and crankshaft.

  • He unscrews the cap and starts to fill the crankcase, careful not to spill on the new engine.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • So it's like this is the original crankcase that I made for the engine.

  • Now, look at that crankcase.

  • Looks like you cracked your crankcase.

  • You've split the crankcase open.

  • The crankcase cracked on that boulder, that's for sure.

  • When changing oil, use a suction pump; it draws old lubricant out of the crankcase and minimizes mess.

  • It's time to add a few quarts of new oil to the crankcase.

  • Too much oil in the crankcase can damage seals and gaskets.

Surface Forms

crankcase singular
crankcases plural

Morphology

crankcase = crank + case (semi-transparent) = crank + case

The compound is literally 'crank' + 'case' (a housing for the crank), but it is a technical term that may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Crankcase comes from two simple parts: crank, an old word for a 'bent' arm used to turn things, and case, meaning a 'box' or container. So a crankcase is literally the 'box' that holds the engine's crank, which explains why it means the part of an engine that houses the crankshaft.