Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb crank_up

2 senses of crank up

Sense 1
crank, crank up -- (start by cranking; "crank up the engine")
       => start, start up -- (get going or set in motion; "We simply could not start the engine"; "start up the computer")

Sense 2
crank, crank up -- (rotate with a crank)
       => rotate, circumvolve -- (cause to turn on an axis or center; "Rotate the handle")