corkscrew

1 of 3

noun

cork·​screw ˈkȯrk-ˌskrü How to pronounce corkscrew (audio)
: a device for drawing corks from bottles that has a pointed spiral piece of metal turned by a handle

corkscrew

2 of 3

adjective

: resembling a corkscrew : spiral

corkscrew

3 of 3

verb

corkscrewed; corkscrewing; corkscrews

transitive verb

1
2
: to draw out with difficulty
3
: to twist into a spiral

intransitive verb

: to move in a winding course

Examples of corkscrew in a Sentence

Adjective an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls Verb practically every word had to be corkscrewed out of the tight-lipped witness the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There are too many things that could go wrong with a corkscrew. Bon Appétit, 18 Oct. 2024 Alessi Parrot Sommelier-Style Corkscrew $75 $34 Amazon Another one of our favorite housewarming gifts to give, this Alessi parrot corkscrew is undeniably adorable. Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
These include its corkscrew shape, which allows the bacterium to burrow its way into the stomach lining. Steffini Stalos, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2024 Wine tastings within the on-site cellar feature a giant corkscrew art piece-cum-wine rack, too. Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Verb
Then James Cameron came aboard for Aliens and upped the velocity factor, essentially turning the 1986 sequel into a roller coaster dipping and corkscrewing on an extraterrestrial planet. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024 The sitting area had a dramatic brick chimney that corkscrewed from floor to ceiling. Kate Maxwell, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for corkscrew 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corkscrew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1698, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1790, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of corkscrew was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near corkscrew

Cite this Entry

“Corkscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corkscrew. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

corkscrew

1 of 2 noun
cork·​screw ˈkȯrk-ˌskrü How to pronounce corkscrew (audio)
: a pointed spiral tool with a handle for pulling corks from bottles

corkscrew

2 of 2 adjective
: resembling a corkscrew : spiral

More from Merriam-Webster on corkscrew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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