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croco|dile /krɒ kəda I l/ (crocodiles ) N‑COUNT A crocodile is a large reptile with a long body and strong jaws. Crocodiles live in rivers and eat meat.

cro co|dile tea rs N‑PLURAL If someone is crying crocodile tears , their tears and sadness are not genuine or sincere. □  The sight of George shedding crocodile tears made me sick.

cro|cus /kroʊ kəs/ (crocuses ) N‑COUNT Crocuses are small white, yellow, or purple flowers that are grown in parks and gardens in the early spring.

croft /krɒ ft, [AM ] krɔː ft/ (crofts ) N‑COUNT In Scotland, a croft is a small piece of land which is owned and farmed by one family and which provides them with food. □  …a remote croft near Loch Nevis.

croft|er /krɒ ftə ^r , [AM ] krɔː ft-/ (crofters ) N‑COUNT In Scotland, a crofter is a person who lives on a croft or small farm.

croft|ing /krɒ ft I ŋ, [AM ] krɔː ft-/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] In Scotland, crofting is the activity of farming on small pieces of land. □  …isolated crofting communities.

crois|sant /kwæ sɒn, [AM ] kwɑːsɑː n/ (croissants ) N‑VAR Croissants are small, sweet bread rolls in the shape of a crescent that are eaten for breakfast. □  …coffee and croissants.

crone /kroʊ n/ (crones ) N‑COUNT A crone is an ugly old woman. [LITERARY ]

cro|ny /kroʊ ni/ (cronies ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] You can refer to friends that someone spends a lot of time with as their cronies , especially when you disapprove of them. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  He returned from a lunchtime drinking session with his business cronies.

cro|ny|ism /kroʊ ni I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone in authority of cronyism , you mean that they use their power or authority to get jobs for their friends. [JOURNALISM , DISAPPROVAL ]

crook /krʊ k/ (crooks , crooking , crooked )

1 N‑COUNT A crook is a dishonest person or a criminal. [INFORMAL ] □  The man is a crook and a liar.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The crook of your arm or leg is the soft inside part where you bend your elbow or knee. □ [+ of ] She hid her face in the crook of her arm.

3 VERB If you crook your arm or finger, you bend it. □ [V n] He crooked his finger: 'Come forward,' he said.

4 N‑COUNT A crook is a long pole with a large hook at the end. A crook is carried by a bishop in religious ceremonies, or by a shepherd. □  …a shepherd's crook.

5 PHRASE If someone says they will do something by hook or by crook , they are determined to do it, even if they have to make a great effort or use dishonest means. □  They intend to get their way, by hook or by crook.

crook|ed /krʊ k I d/

1 ADJ If you describe something as crooked , especially something that is usually straight, you mean that it is bent or twisted. □  …the crooked line of his broken nose. □  …a crooked little tree.

2 ADJ A crooked smile is uneven and bigger on one side than the other. □  Polly gave her a crooked grin. ●  crook|ed|ly ADV □  Nick was smiling crookedly at her.

3 ADJ If you describe a person or an activity as crooked , you mean that they are dishonest or criminal. [INFORMAL ] □  …a crooked cop.

croon /kruː n/ (croons , crooning , crooned )

1 VERB If you croon , you sing or hum quietly and gently. □ [V ] He would much rather have been crooning in a smoky bar. □ [V n] Later in the evening, Lewis began to croon another Springsteen song.

2 VERB If one person talks to another in a soft gentle voice, you can describe them as crooning , especially if you think they are being sentimental or insincere. □ [V with quote] 'Dear boy,' she crooned, hugging him heartily. □ [V n] The man was crooning soft words of encouragement to his wife. [Also V ]

croon|er /kruː nə ^r / (crooners ) N‑COUNT A crooner is a male singer who sings sentimental songs, especially the love songs of the 1930s and 1940s.

crop ◆◇◇ /krɒ p/ (crops , cropping , cropped )