screw

1 of 2

noun

ˈskrü 

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

a

: thumbscrew sense 1

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

screwlike

ˈskrü-ˌlīk 

adjective

see also:

have a screw loose

screw

2 of 2

verb

screwed; screwing; screws

transitive verb

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

a(1)

: to twist into strained configurations : contort

screwed up his face

(2)

: squint

(3)

: crumple

b

: to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge : thread

3

: to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of

If one can screw up the courage to ask, word-of-mouth recommendations are very good.

—Gregory Simon, quoted in Consumer Reports

4

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 curse

screw you!

b

: to extract by pressure or threat

5

vulgar : to copulate with

intransitive verb

1

: to rotate like or as a screw

2

: to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion

3

vulgar : copulate

screwer noun

Synonyms of screw

Verb

• distort
• deform
• contort
• curl

Examples 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

Noun

The devices were wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts and screws, as well as a fuse. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026

Tisch told reporters that the devices were a bit smaller than a football and appear to be a jar wrapped in tape with nuts, bolts and screws, along with a hobby fuse. —Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026

The devices, which Tisch said were smaller than a football, were wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts, and screws, as well as a hobby fuse that could be lit. —ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026

If necessary, add screws to weak joints to fortify them. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026

The collar rotates 360 degrees and uses a thumb screw to set it and lock it into place. —Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026

View gallery - 8 images The Arcos Driver aerospace-grade titanium pocket tool can crack even the most elusive screw. —Omar Kardoudi march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026

The most common objects retrieved from water include nuts and bolts, screws and nails, cutlery and tools. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

This does kind of put the screws to Russia a bit. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026

Verb

Harper is thrilled, Whitney is screwed. —Meg Walters, Glamour, 2 Mar. 2026

You just got screwed over by a duo! —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026

And this can really screw with your system for a bit. —Korin Miller, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026

If a healthy player sits, the millionaires are fine and the fans get screwed. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026

They are typically screwed into the snow and often cemented in by water that turns to ice. —Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026

Everyone is kind of trying to screw each other over. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026

Smaller version of the quakes at home Think of a plastic water bottle filled to the rim with the cap firmly screwed on. —Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026

Nevertheless, on a clear if cold day the three walked through several inches of snow, screwing in the new signs. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing screw

• Allen screw
• got a screw loose
• have a loose screw
• have a screw loose
• Phillips-head screw
• Phillips screw
• screw around
• screw cap/top
• screw eye
• screw it
• screw jack
• screw one's face/eyes up
• screw pine
• screw propeller
• screw the pooch
• screw thread
• screw-top
• screw up
• screw up one's face/eyes
• screw up the/one's courage

Rhymes for screw

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

screw

1 of 2 noun

ˈskrü 

1

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

a

: something having the shape of a screw : spiral

b

: the act of screwing tight : twist

c

: a screw-shaped device (as a corkscrew)

3

: propeller

screwlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

screw

2 of 2 verb

1

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

ˈskrü 

: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)