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

Rather than making the 6-by-8-foot artwork a flat painting, Pisano used 6,000 drywall screws and 2,500 real military dog tags for dimension. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026

YouTube provided another turn of the screw for the genre, and prankstreamers became some of the platform’s biggest stars. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor in July 2021, inserting a rod, plates and screws into his left leg after the fighter broke his tibia and fibula during a mixed martial arts bout against Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas. — Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

The screw turned during my Thanksgiving trip in 2007. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026

Using screw-in cleats could help when more traction is needed but can raise the risk of injury. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat living tissue. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026

Hickey allegedly suffered a shoulder fracture that required surgery involving a metal plate and multiple screws, as well as a crush injury to her leg, post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent limitations to her shoulder. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

This 10-in-1 multi-tool will quickly become a go-to option for any number of jobs around the house, making use of the nail setter to hang pictures, the flathead screwdriver to drive or remove screws, and the caulk cleaner to tidy up caulk lines. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 June 2026

Verb

The breeze was screwing with the sound system, and the temperature dropped abruptly. — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026

Either Cody or Gunther wins because Sami gets screwed; Zayn will then further descend into madness and attack someone after the bell. — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Attracted to the smell, the flies will lay eggs in open wounds on warm-blooded animals, and within hours the eggs hatch as the worms burrow in a screw-like pattern into the flesh to feed, according to the advisory. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Securing a current-generation Dyson stick vacuum bundled with two motorized cleaning heads and a specialized pet hair screw tool below the $300 line is an incredible find. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026

The pen cap then screws onto the lower tube to create an extended striker that's easy to grip and move. — New Atlas, 22 June 2026

Now, Greg is screwed because, one week in, everyone is having a great time. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Do you guys sit in a circle and talk about visceral ways to screw over people? — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 16 June 2026

No matter who ends up on the Iron Throne, the common people get screwed. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026

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
• got a screw loose
• have a loose screw
• have a screw loose
• 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)