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Definition of screw
1a : a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fitsb : 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
2a : a screwlike form : spiralb : a turn of a screw; also : a twist like the turn of a screwc : 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
8a : thumbscrew 1b : pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce —used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to
have a screw loose
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Origin and Etymology of screw
Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow
screw
Definition of screw
transitive verb
1a (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 thumbscrewb : to cause to rotate spirally about an axis
2a (1) : to twist into strained configurations : contort screwed up his face (2) : squint (3) : crumpleb : 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
4a (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
nounExamples 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.
1605
First Known Use of screw
1605
SCREW Defined for Kids
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
playMedical Definition of screw
: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
Learn More about screw
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See words that rhyme with screw Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for screw Spanish Central: Translation of screw Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about screw
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