n.
Pronunciation: ' skrü
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English scrue, from Middle French escroe female screw, nut, from Medieval Latin scrofa, from Latin, sow
Date: 15th century
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 (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 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 \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective
– have a screw loose : to be mentally unbalanced