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

Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screw this. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

At the same time, the feds are putting the screws on the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has some oversight authority over the CTA’s rail system. —Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026

Pool chemicals, sunlight and wear can weaken the plastic and screws that secure them. —Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

Oftentimes, these frames are built using Japanese joinery, which means no nails, screws, or glue are included in the frame assembly. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 16 Mar. 2026

Though with 18 screws, removing the battery is still not the simplest task. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 15 Mar. 2026

The front tire was flat, with a screw protruding from it. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

About 10 feet high on a wooden utility pole, held fast with two Phillips screws, a red sign with black letters has a four-word warning for people going north on Moreland Avenue. —Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026

On her dresser was a small maroon leather jewelry box that I was not allowed to touch, which contained a string of real pearls and a pair of screw-on ruby earrings that had been her grandmother’s. —Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

The result is that many contestants are frequent collaborators and have long histories with one another, adding extra juice to their attempts to screw each other over. —Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2026

Another big upgrade in terms of the Neo’s repairability compared to previous MacBooks, according to reviewers, is its screw-in battery. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 15 Mar. 2026

Then there are the indirect ways stress can screw with your gut. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026

To make a profit from their business, American companies sent their manufacturing facilities overseas, screwing American workers by incurring smaller labor costs, therefore profiting rich investors who never had to work for it and used their money to make more money off the American consumer. —Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026

All the setup required was screwing in the legs. —Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2026

Con Ed and companies like it will continue to screw customers over so long as the system allows it. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026

TiMate, a Hong Kong tool company, says its new Arcos Driver was built for exactly that screw. —Omar Kardoudi march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026

The brand first succeeded with its lightweight soccer shoes, which had screw-in studs and gained international attention after the 1954 World Cup final. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 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)