n. Any bend, turn, or curve; a curvature; a flexure: as, a crook in a river or in a piece of timber.n. A bending of the knee; a genuflection.n. A bent or curved part; a curving piece or portion of anything: as, the crook of a cane or of an umbrella-handle.n. An instrument or implement having a crook, or distinguished by its curved form.n. The pastoral staff of a bishop or an abbot, fashioned in the form of a shepherd's staff, as a symbol of his sway over and care for his flock. Such staves are generally gilt, ornamented with jewels, and enriched by carving, etc. Compare pastoral staff, under staff.n. A hook hung in an open chimney to support a pot or kettle; a pot-hook or trammel.n. In music: A short tube, either curved or straight, that may be inserted into various metal wind-instruments so as to lengthen their tube, and thus lower their fundamental tone or key. The curved metal tube between the mouthpiece and the body of a bassoon.n. A sickle.n. A lock or curl of hair. Compare crocket.n. A gibbet.n. A support consisting of a post or pile with a cross-beam resting upon it; a bracket or truss consisting of a vertical piece, a horizontal piece, and a strut.n. An artifice; a trick; a contrivance.n. A dishonest person; one who is crooked in conduct; a tricky or underhand schemer; a thief; a swindley.To bend; cause to assume an angular or a curved form; make a curve or hook in.To curl (hair). Ayenbite of Inwit, p. 176.To turn; pervert; misapply.To thwart.To bend or be bent; be turned from a right line; curve; wind.Specifically To bend the knee; crouch.n. n. A name given to both the parenthesis ( ) and the square bracket [].
