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