I. ˈskrü 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 -ˌlīk adjective
•
- have a screw loose
II. verb
Date: 1605
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
screw the two pieces together
(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.
a.
(1) : to twist into strained configurations : contort
screw ed 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
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
screw ed out of a job
(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
3. usually vulgar : copulate
• screw·er noun