plural screws
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 form that resembles a screw : spiral
b
: a turn of a screw
also
: a twist like the turn of a screw
c
: a device (such as a corkscrew) that resembles a screw
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
b
: pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce
—used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to
9
a
vulgar
: an act of sexual intercourse
b
vulgar
: a partner in sexual intercourse
screwed; screwing; screws
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
(3)
: to press tightly in a device (such 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
3
: to increase the intensity, quantity, or capability of
trying to screw up courage to confess—
Will Scott
Will Scott4
a(1)
: to mistreat or exploit through extortion, trickery, or unfair actions
especially
: to deprive of or cheat out of something due or expected
(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 curseJ. W. Dean IIIscrew you!
b
: to extract by pressure or threat
5
vulgar
: to copulate with
1
: to rotate like or as a screw
2
: to turn or move with a twisting or writhing motion
3
vulgar
: copulate
screwer
noun
Phrases
have a screw loose
also have a loose screw
informal
: to be mentally unsound
He'll drive you crazy if you're not careful. He's got a screw loose and you know it.—Jayne Anne Phillips
Jayne Anne PhillipsExamples of screw in a Sentence
Verb
I screwed the boards together.
The cupboards are screwed to the wall.
Screw the cap on tight.
Screw the light bulb into the fixture.
The lid screws onto the jar.
The light bulb screws right in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
This wine, which boasts a screw top for convenience, is sold nationally at Total Wine & More and in regional retailers like Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Bristol Farms, Fresh Market, and Spec’s.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Inspired by oysters, the new glue is designed to repair broken bones quickly without the need for metal plates, screws, or big surgeries.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Do your own safety checks, as screws and fasteners can loosen over time with use.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025
The facility in Jefferson City had recently been taken over by MU Health Care, and Allen was soon transferred 30 miles farther by ground ambulance to the system’s main hospital in Columbia for surgery to insert two metal plates and several screws to repair his collarbone.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Wide-mouth jars with screw-on lids for decanting pantry goods and for storing leftovers in the fridge.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
But Arsenal could not muster enough superior moments to turn the screw.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
The lens is also compatible with traditional screw-in filters and has a 62mm filter thread.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Elton John accidentally screwed him over at Live Aid.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
And Merteuil is the one who basically says screw everyone.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The same goes for the ways tech will gobble up legacy media for a good payout, in this case depicted by Jon Hamm’s Paul Marks finding new ways to screw over Jennifer Aniston’s Alex.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Many car parts are glued together rather than riveted, screwed, or bolted, and the robots and spray guns that apply those bonding agents need to be cleaned.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
Get too close to the smoke billowing out of the preseason hype machine, and you might get pelted by a gear or screw spewing from the engine.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Moving a few cables out of the way also exposes the adjustment screw for the horizontal graphics-card support on the opposite side.
—PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The convenient kit comes with floor and roofing materials, plus nails, screws, handles, door locks, and fixings, which means less time wasted running to the hardware store.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
This wine, which boasts a screw top for convenience, is sold nationally at Total Wine & More and in regional retailers like Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Bristol Farms, Fresh Market, and Spec’s.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Inspired by oysters, the new glue is designed to repair broken bones quickly without the need for metal plates, screws, or big surgeries.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Do your own safety checks, as screws and fasteners can loosen over time with use.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025
The facility in Jefferson City had recently been taken over by MU Health Care, and Allen was soon transferred 30 miles farther by ground ambulance to the system’s main hospital in Columbia for surgery to insert two metal plates and several screws to repair his collarbone.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Wide-mouth jars with screw-on lids for decanting pantry goods and for storing leftovers in the fridge.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
But Arsenal could not muster enough superior moments to turn the screw.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
The lens is also compatible with traditional screw-in filters and has a 62mm filter thread.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
That was the famous California ballot initiative Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes by more than 25% and then screwed a tight cap on future rate increases.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Elton John accidentally screwed him over at Live Aid.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
And Merteuil is the one who basically says screw everyone.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
The same goes for the ways tech will gobble up legacy media for a good payout, in this case depicted by Jon Hamm’s Paul Marks finding new ways to screw over Jennifer Aniston’s Alex.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Many car parts are glued together rather than riveted, screwed, or bolted, and the robots and spray guns that apply those bonding agents need to be cleaned.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
Get too close to the smoke billowing out of the preseason hype machine, and you might get pelted by a gear or screw spewing from the engine.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Moving a few cables out of the way also exposes the adjustment screw for the horizontal graphics-card support on the opposite side.
—PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screw
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a simple machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a winding groove around it and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits
b
: a nail-shaped or rod-shaped metal piece with a winding groove used for fastening solid pieces together
2
3
screw
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to attach, fasten, or close with a screw
b
: to operate, tighten, or adjust with a screw
c
: to turn or twist on a screwlike thread
2
: to twist out of shape
a face screwed up in pain
3
: to increase in amount
trying to screw up enough nerve to ask
screwer
noun
Medical Definition
screw
noun
: a threaded device used in bone surgery for fixation of parts (as fragments of fractured bones)
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