First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1screw
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
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 usually vulgar : an act of sexual intercourse b usually vulgar : a partner in sexual intercourse
— screw·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
— have a screw loose
: to be mentally unbalanced
See screw defined for English-language learners
See screw defined for kids
Origin of SCREW
Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow
Rhymes with SCREW
blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, true, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo
2screw
verb
Definition of SCREW
transitive verb1
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 (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
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
usually 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
See screw defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCREW
1605
SCREW[1] Defined for Kids
1screw
noun \ˈskrü\
Definition of SCREW for Kids
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
2screw
verb
screwedscrew·ing
Definition of SCREW for Kids
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
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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