plural screws
1
a
: a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
b
: a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together
2
a
: a form that resembles a screw : spiral
b
: a turn of a screw
also
: a twist like the turn of a screw
c
: a device (such as a corkscrew) that resembles a screw
3
: a worn-out horse
4
chiefly British
: a small packet (as of tobacco)
5
: a prison guard
6
: a person who bargains shrewdly
also
: skinflint
7
: a propeller especially of a ship
8
b
: pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce
—used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to
9
a
vulgar
: an act of sexual intercourse
b
vulgar
: a partner in sexual intercourse
screwed; screwing; screws
1
a(1)
: to attach, fasten, or close by means of a screw
(2)
: to unite or separate by means of a screw or a twisting motion
(3)
: to press tightly in a device (such as a vise) operated by a screw
(4)
: to operate, tighten, or adjust by means of a screw
(5)
: to torture by means of a thumbscrew
b
: to cause to rotate spirally about an axis
2
3
: to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of
trying to screw up courage to confess—
Will Scott
Will Scott4
a(1)
: to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actions
especially
: to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected
(2)
: to treat so as to bring about injury or loss (as to a person's reputation)
use the available Federal machinery to screw our political enemies—J. W. Dean III
—often used as a generalized curseJ. W. Dean IIIscrew you!
b
: to extract by pressure or threat
5
vulgar
: to copulate with
1
: to rotate like or as a screw
2
: to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion
3
vulgar
: copulate
screwer
noun
Phrases
have a screw loose
also have a loose screw
informal
: to be mentally unsound
He'll drive you crazy if you're not careful. He's got a screw loose and you know it.—Jayne Anne Phillips
Jayne Anne PhillipsExamples of screw in a Sentence
Verb
I screwed the boards together.
The cupboards are screwed to the wall.
Screw the cap on tight.
Screw the light bulb into the fixture.
The lid screws onto the jar.
The light bulb screws right in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Devonne Goode, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025
The facility in Jefferson City had recently been taken over by MU Health Care, and Allen was soon transferred 30 miles farther by ground ambulance to the system’s main hospital in Columbia for surgery to insert two metal plates and several screws to repair his collarbone.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Wide-mouth jars with screw-on lids for decanting pantry goods and for storing leftovers in the fridge.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
But Arsenal could not muster enough superior moments to turn the screw.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Bolster or reattach sagging gutters, tighten up screws, and seal any cracks or leaks with gutter sealant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
There are four corner machine screws on the back of the monitor to attach the screen to a fan mount.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Each one magnetically snaps into place, and is secured with a retaining ring that screws in overtop of it.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
The lens is also compatible with traditional screw-in filters and has a 62mm filter thread.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Harrison is also a fan of the hair screw tool that’s designed to pick up long strands of hair and loose pet fur with ease.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Bill Skarsgård stars as Kiritsis, a societal outcast who feels he’s been screwed over by the powers that be.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
What's even worse is that Bresnahan is profiting off our pain, playing the stock market while voting to screw us over in Washington.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
This lens also has the ability to accept screw-in filters, with two lens hoods coming included to allow for either.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The caseback features a screw-down stainless steel plate engraved with the Jolly Roger, tying together the visual theme with a mechanical core suited for field conditions.
—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The name refers to the way in which maggots screw themselves into the tissue of animals with their sharp mouth hooks, causing extensive damage and often leading to death.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2025
Just fill it up at a stream, screw the lid back on, and squeeze.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Do your own safety checks, as screws and fasteners can loosen over time with use.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025
The facility in Jefferson City had recently been taken over by MU Health Care, and Allen was soon transferred 30 miles farther by ground ambulance to the system’s main hospital in Columbia for surgery to insert two metal plates and several screws to repair his collarbone.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Wide-mouth jars with screw-on lids for decanting pantry goods and for storing leftovers in the fridge.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
But Arsenal could not muster enough superior moments to turn the screw.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Bolster or reattach sagging gutters, tighten up screws, and seal any cracks or leaks with gutter sealant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
There are four corner machine screws on the back of the monitor to attach the screen to a fan mount.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Each one magnetically snaps into place, and is secured with a retaining ring that screws in overtop of it.
—New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
The lens is also compatible with traditional screw-in filters and has a 62mm filter thread.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Waterhouse said that screw caps generally make more sense for a wine like rosé, which isn’t intended to age, while cork is the standard for aging wines.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Harrison is also a fan of the hair screw tool that’s designed to pick up long strands of hair and loose pet fur with ease.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Bill Skarsgård stars as Kiritsis, a societal outcast who feels he’s been screwed over by the powers that be.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
What's even worse is that Bresnahan is profiting off our pain, playing the stock market while voting to screw us over in Washington.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
This lens also has the ability to accept screw-in filters, with two lens hoods coming included to allow for either.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The caseback features a screw-down stainless steel plate engraved with the Jolly Roger, tying together the visual theme with a mechanical core suited for field conditions.
—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The name refers to the way in which maggots screw themselves into the tissue of animals with their sharp mouth hooks, causing extensive damage and often leading to death.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2025
Just fill it up at a stream, screw the lid back on, and squeeze.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screw
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
b
: a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together
2
3
screw
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to attach, fasten, or close with a screw
b
: to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw
c
: to turn or twist on a screwlike thread
2
: to twist out of shape
a face screwed up in pain
3
: to increase in amount
trying to screw up enough nerve to ask
screwer
noun
Medical Definition
screw
noun
: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share