SCREW

I. noun Etymology: Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female ~, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow Date: 15th century 1. 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, 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 ~driver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together, 2. a ~like form ; spiral , a turn of a ~, a ~like device (as a cork~), a worn-out horse, a small packet (as of tobacco), a prison guard, a person who bargains shrewdly, a propeller especially of a ship, 8. thumb~ 1, pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce, 9. an act of sexual intercourse, a partner in sexual intercourse, ~like adjective II. verb Date: 1605 transitive verb 1. a. to attach, fasten, or close by means of a ~, to unite or separate by means of a ~ or a twisting motion , to press tightly in a device (as a vise) operated by a ~, to operate, tighten, or adjust by means of a ~, to torture by means of a thumb~, to cause to rotate spirally about an axis, 2. a. to twist into strained configurations ; contort , squint , crumple , to furnish with a spiral groove or ridge ; thread , to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of , 4. a. to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actions, to treat so as to bring about injury or loss (as to a person's reputation) , to extract by pressure or threat, to copulate with, intransitive verb to rotate like or as a ~, to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion, copulate , ~er noun