| 释义 |
screw
I. \ˈskrü\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English skrewe, from Middle French escroe, escroue female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow
1.
a. : a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder of equal dimensions in which the applied force acts in a spiral path along the grooves while the resisting force acts along the axis of the cylinder — compare jackscrew
b. : a cylinder with a helical cut groove on the outer surface or a cone with a conical spiral groove used variously (as to fasten, apply pressure, transmit motion, or make adjustments) especially where a large mechanical advantage and irreversible motion are desired; specifically : a cylindrical fastener that is usually pointed, that has a head with a slot or recess, that is helically or spirally threaded, and that is designed for insertion into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) — compare archimedes' screw, differential screw, hindley's screw, interrupted screw, left-hand screw thread, machine screw, right-handed screw, wood screw, worm
c. : a hollow cylinder or cone with a spiral groove upon its inner surface into which a male screw may advance and fit when rotated in the proper direction — compare nut
2. : any of various devices consisting wholly or partly of a screw or possessing a worm: as
a. obsolete : gimlet
b. : a wormed tool used for pulling; specifically : corkscrew
c. : the worm of a corkscrew or gimlet
d. usually screws plural : thumbscrew 2
e. : screw propeller
f. : a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
3.
a.
(1) : a form resembling a screw : spiral
< stems thin and lightly twisted — the screw being communicated to the surface — Albert Hartshorne >
(2) : something having a spiral form
< scarcely the screw of his tail to be seen — R.D.Blackmore >
(3) : a twisting out of shape : contortion
< a kind of screw in her face and carriage, expressive of suppressed emotion — Charles Dickens >
b. : a spiral twisting motion : a screwing motion
< the barber pole rested its stripes from their daily screw — Herbert Gold >
c. : spiral threading or grooving
d.
(1) Britain : spin imparted to a cue ball by screwing it
(2) Britain : a shot made by screwing the cue ball
(3) : a similar spin imparted to the ball in various other games (as ping-pong)
4. : a means of applying painful physical, mental, or moral pressure (as for coercion or extortion)
< the bookie turns on the screws for his money — Newsweek >
< they feel the screw: they dread exposure — Henry James †1916 >
— usually used in plural
5.
a. : an act of copulation — usually considered vulgar
b. : a partner in sexual intercourse — usually considered vulgar
6. : key
7. : a worn-out, broken-down, or otherwise unsound horse
8.
a.
(1) : a prison guard
(2) : turnkey
(3) : policeman
b. : an extortionate person : a sharp bargainer : skinflint
c. slang : fool
< why, the old screw took that for a compliment — Joseph Hergesheimer >
d. : cowboy
9. chiefly Britain : a small paper packet wrapped by twisting both ends and often used for small quantities (as of tobacco, salt, pepper) for ready use
10. : screw-ship
11. Britain : salary, pay
12. Britain : look, glance
< had a screw at his self in the glass — Richard Llewellyn >
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to attach or fasten by means of a screw
< screw a lock on a door >
(2) : to close and seal shut by means of a screw
< screwed the box top tight >
(3) : to unite or separate by means of a screw or a twisting motion
< screw the two pieces together >
(4) : to press tightly in a device (as a vise) operated by a screw
(5) : to operate, tighten, or adjust by means of a screw; specifically : to tighten or raise the pitch of (a musical string) by turning a screw or key
(6) : to torture by means of a thumbscrew
(7) : to lace very tight
(8) : to cap or uncap by twisting a cover
< so clumsy with sleepiness that he could hardly screw open the toothpaste — Clemence Dane >
< screw the jar tight >
b.
(1) : to insert (as a spirally grooved object) into a usually spirally grooved receptacle with a twisting motion
< screw one piece of the fishing rod into the other >
(2) : to cause to rotate spirally about an axis
< the level may be adjusted by screwing the bolt up or down >
(3) : to rotate (a receptacle with internal spiral grooves) about a male screw
< screw on a nut >
2.
a.
(1) : to twist (as the face) into strained or contorted configurations
< their tanned faces screwed into painful and unaccustomed lines of concentration — E.A.McCourt >
< their shoulders screwed up with the cold — Willa Cather >
(2) : to partially close or otherwise alter the shape of (an eye) : squint
< screwed her eyes tight and tried to read the lettering — Mavis Gallant >
< screw up one eye into an imaginary monocle — J.P.O'Donnell >
(3) : to roll and twist into a shapeless mass : crumple
< with disgust he screwed the sheet up and threw it across the hut — R.E.Robinson >
b.
(1) : to cause to move in a spiral, twisting, or tortuous manner (as into or through a narrow opening)
< capable of rotating … and thus screwing themselves through the water — K.A.Bisset >
(2) : to cause (a scrimmage in rugby) to twist round
(3) : to cause (a ball) to swerve; specifically Britain : to hit (a cue ball) low down and slightly to the side so that it will be deflected in a curve after striking an object ball
c. : to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge : thread
3. : to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of — usually used with up
< the speed screwed up exhilaration to a point almost beyond bearing — P.H.Newby >
< screw himself up to the talking point — Aldous Huxley >
< trying to screw up courage to confess — Will Scott >
4.
a. obsolete : to root deeply (an idea or habit) by insinuation
b. archaic : to insinuate (oneself) gradually
< screwed himself into the partial confidence of the Laird — Sir Walter Scott >
5. : to alter the sense of to suit one's purpose
< by jurisprudential construction, screwing up misdemeanors into felonies — Jeremy Bentham >
6.
a. : to practice extortion upon : oppress or dispossess by unreasonable or extortionate exactions or conditions
< quarrelled with his agents and screwed his tenants — W.M.Thackeray >
b. : to extract by pressure or threat
< landlords were screwing the last penny from their poor tenants — Hugh McVeigh >
< stayed on for over two months, in order to screw out of the … prime minister a promise — Reader Bullard >
c. : to induce to a reduction in price or rent
< screwed the landlady down to a shilling — Harry Lauder >
d. slang : to deprive of something due : cheat
< split up the dirty jobs among the deckhands, so nobody got screwed — Richard Bissell >
7. : to copulate with — usually considered vulgar
8. : to enter for burglary by means of a skeleton key
9. slang : to spoil by meddling or incompetence — usually used with up
< somebody's screwed things up, we're nowhere near our objective — Infantry Journal >
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to rotate or have the ability to rotate like a screw
< the nut screws on here >
< this piece screws into the other >
b. : to function as a screw
2. : to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion
< screwing about to catch a glimpse of that little beauty — Geoff Bingham >
3. : to cause a ball to swerve
4. : to be parsimonious : scrimp
< must screw and save in order to pay off the money — W.M.Thackeray >
5. : to move by means of a screw propeller
6. : copulate — usually considered vulgar
7. slang : to leave quickly : hurry away
< come on, let's screw out of here — Robert Lowry >
III. noun
or scrow \ˈskrō\
(-s)
Etymology: probably modification of obsolete French escrouelle (now écrouelle)
: an amphipod crustacean — compare sand screw |