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 Phillips
Synonyms
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.
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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)
Time Traveler
The first known use of screw was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing screw
Dictionary Entries Near screw
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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)
More from Merriam-Webster on screw
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about screw
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