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
see also:
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
If one can screw up the courage to ask, word-of-mouth recommendations are very good.—
Gregory Simon, quoted in Consumer Reports
Gregory Simon, quoted in Consumer Reports4
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
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
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Hickey allegedly suffered a shoulder fracture that required surgery involving a metal plate and multiple screws, as well as a crush injury to her leg, post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent limitations to her shoulder.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
This 10-in-1 multi-tool will quickly become a go-to option for any number of jobs around the house, making use of the nail setter to hang pictures, the flathead screwdriver to drive or remove screws, and the caulk cleaner to tidy up caulk lines.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
Because the slots on the UMS keep the brackets for the armrests and chair back aligned with the screw holes, attaching them is easy.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Females can lay 200 to 300 eggs, which grow into larvae that look like wood screws and burrow into flesh.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The 37 mm case, integrated bracelet, and dial are crafted in 18-karat gold, with the eight white-gold screws on the bezel providing only the slightest bit of contrast.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 June 2026
Long screws pass through these rails, holding the cabinet to the wall.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2026
Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026
As a bonus, this vacuum comes with different attachments, including a dusting brush and hair screw tool.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Mission 1 Pro ships with one Enduro 2 battery, a USB-C cable, an adhesive mount, a mounting buckle, and a thumb screw to secure the buckle to the camera's swing-out fingers.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Set in the 1980s, when Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels were first released, Rivals is a tongue-in-cheek period drama about the cutthroat world of regional-television franchises, whose characters backstab and smoke and screw with relish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Because one of them, all of them, can get pissed at me and say, screw this, we’re done.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor in July 2021, inserting a rod, plates and screws into his left leg after the fighter broke his tibia and fibula during a mixed martial arts bout against Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Hickey allegedly suffered a shoulder fracture that required surgery involving a metal plate and multiple screws, as well as a crush injury to her leg, post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent limitations to her shoulder.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
This 10-in-1 multi-tool will quickly become a go-to option for any number of jobs around the house, making use of the nail setter to hang pictures, the flathead screwdriver to drive or remove screws, and the caulk cleaner to tidy up caulk lines.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
Because the slots on the UMS keep the brackets for the armrests and chair back aligned with the screw holes, attaching them is easy.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Females can lay 200 to 300 eggs, which grow into larvae that look like wood screws and burrow into flesh.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026
The 37 mm case, integrated bracelet, and dial are crafted in 18-karat gold, with the eight white-gold screws on the bezel providing only the slightest bit of contrast.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 June 2026
Long screws pass through these rails, holding the cabinet to the wall.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2026
Verb
Each of the asymmetrical stones used in the brooches, which were individually polished and finished, were cut specifically for the drawing of the creation with 18-karat yellow gold prongs screwed in to protect the fragile stone tableaus.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026
As a bonus, this vacuum comes with different attachments, including a dusting brush and hair screw tool.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The Mission 1 Pro ships with one Enduro 2 battery, a USB-C cable, an adhesive mount, a mounting buckle, and a thumb screw to secure the buckle to the camera's swing-out fingers.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Set in the 1980s, when Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels were first released, Rivals is a tongue-in-cheek period drama about the cutthroat world of regional-television franchises, whose characters backstab and smoke and screw with relish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Because one of them, all of them, can get pissed at me and say, screw this, we’re done.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
