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

Under the noonday sun while fishing, or stealing light from the full moon, the point of his pencil traced the imaginary movements of the washers, threads, coil springs, cylinders, bolts, and screws that had long enriched the workings of his mind. —Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026

The sconces are securely mounted with a couple of screws and promise up to 72 hours of light per charge. —Esme Benjamin, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

Pieces are fitted into one another using wooden notches as opposed to screws; no tools are required for assembly. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026

The top lid screws securely over the straw to keep contaminants out, and the filter is a combination microfilter with a carbon insert that attaches to the straw portion of the lid. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

Secure the sensor using tamper-resistant screws. —Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Primo left the seams showing on his best beats, deftly combining chunky sample chops and simple, swinging, heavy-bag drums into herky-jerky, screw-face symphonies. —Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026

Trochanter fractures located at the base of the hip are usually fixed with a rod and screws. —Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

Granted, the Chargers’ experience hasn’t been positive, but experienced rosters tend to play more composed in such games, even if held together by surgical screws and athletic tape. —J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Verb

Cattano suggests screwing mug hooks into the bottom of kitchen cabinets to utilize that space between the cupboards and the countertops. —Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026

And apparently early exposure to Tarantino didn’t screw him up. —Lz Granderson, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025

If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025

The folks at Grayl have devised a rugged heat-proof screw-together accessory that breaks down to a press knob, two-piece press rod and fine-mesh filter screen. —Simon Heptinstall december 11, New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025

Once everything is mixed, screw the lid back on, shake and enjoy. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

This is a story about corruption - Trump using government power to screw consumers and gain control of the media. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

Kinto’s travel tumbler ($34) is a handsome receptacle available in a number of colors, with a lid that screws on tight and enough insulation to keep a cup of coffee warm all day long. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025

Reinstall the vent covers—Once everything is fully dry, carefully screw the vent covers back into place. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2025

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
• 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)