screw

play

noun \ ˈskrü \

Definition of screw

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 screwlike form :spiral

b :a turn of a screw; also :a twist like the turn of a screw

c :a screwlike device (such as a corkscrew)

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 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

play \ˈskrü-ˌlīk\ adjective

— have a screw loose

:to be mentally unbalanced

See screw defined for English-language learners

See screw defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of screw

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

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

screw

verb

Definition of screw

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

trying to screw up courage to confess
—Will Scott

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

See screw defined for English-language learners

Examples of screw in a Sentence

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.

screw Synonyms

Synonyms

deform, distort, misshape, contort, squinch, torture, warp

Related Words

deface, disfigure; wrench, wrest, wring; coil, curl, loop, spiral, twine, wind, wreathe

Near Antonyms

straighten, unbend, uncurl

SCREW Defined for Kids

screw

play

noun \ ˈskrü \

Definition of screw for Students

1 :a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece of metal with a winding ridge around its length used for fastening and holding pieces together

2 :the act of twisting

3 :propeller

screw

verb

Definition of screw for Students

screwed; screwing

1 :to attach or fasten with a screw

2 :to turn or twist on a winding ridge to attach

Remember to screw the lid back on the jar.

3 :to twist out of shape

Her face was screwed up with pain.

4 :to increase in amount

He had to screw up his nerve to ask.

Medical Dictionary

screw

play

noun \ ˈskrü \

medical Definition of screw

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

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Origin and Etymology of screw

Other Hardware Terms

screw

Definition of screw

screwer

Examples of screw in a Sentence

screw Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

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Related Phrases

SCREW Defined for Kids

screw

Definition of screw for Students

screw

Definition of screw for Students

Medical Dictionary

screw

medical Definition of screw

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