screw
1 of 2noun
ˈskrü 
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 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 screw
2 of 2verb
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
trying to screw up courage to confess
Will Scott
Will Scott4
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 J. W. Dean III 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
Verb
- contort
- deform
- distort
- misshape
- squinch
- torture
- warp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
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
Kids Definition
screw 1 of 2
noun
ˈskrü
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
2 of 2verb
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 Definition
screw
noun
ˈskrü
: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
screw
verb
1
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition screwed up his face at the taste of the medicine Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- distort
- deform
- torture
- curl
- warp
- contort
- misshape
- wrench
- disfigure
- coil
- spiral
- loop
- squinch
- deface
- wind
- twine
- wring
- wrest
- wreathe
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straighten
- unbend
- uncurl
2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats managed to screw his siblings out of their share of the inheritance Synonyms & Similar Words
- squeeze
- cheat
- stick
- pluck
- do
- sting
- hustle
- beat
- sucker
- chisel
- ream
- bleed
- trick
- victimize
- deceive
- fiddle
- diddle
- wrench
- hose
- short
- defraud
- stiff
- bilk
- shortchange
- swindle
- gaff
- exploit
- shake down
- mulct
- con
- rook
- skin
- nobble
- rip off
- fleece
- fool
- chouse
- cozen
- betray
- thimblerig
- euchre
- gouge
- take to the cleaners
- clip
- take for a ride
- skunk
- sell a bill of goods to
- extort
- flimflam
- do in
- bitch
- overcharge
- soak
- nick
- wring
- milk
- wrest
- dupe
- gull
- bamboozle
- double-cross
- fast-talk
- rope (in)
