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
Robert Mays, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Cops have arrested a 28-year-old Bronx man following a brutal explosion of violence, accusing him of attacking his wife and then viciously stabbing his 12-year-old stepdaughter before hammering a screw through her skull, police and sources said Friday.
—Thomas Tracy, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
There wasn't a screw out of joint.
—Time Staff, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
This is an adjustable graphics-card brace, and its screw tightens the part that clamps it to the slide.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Tomahawk missiles One way the White House is turning the screws on Moscow is by mooting the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
The NetZero by 2050 mandate is twisting the wrist that’s turning the screw.
—Paul Craney, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
The robotic hand is seen grasping an M5 screw, picking up an iPhone, and opening a soda can with precision.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ukrainian leader has also repeatedly called for its Western partners to add more sanctions on Russia and its major economic and strategic partners, such as China and India, to turn the screw on Moscow.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
The Broncos got screwed on an interference call that placed the ball on the 1-yard line.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
And while the screw-on cap is comprised of BPA-free, durable, and food-safe polypropylene, Brandon recommends always hand-washing the tops and not leaving them out in the sun, as UV light can break down even the best plastics.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Gabriel has royally screwed the pooch.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Simply unscrew the base and fill with water, then heap the coffee into the filter basket and screw on the top.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This screwed a lot of people over.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Both have magnets screwed to one end for attaching the corresponding front or top panel, and both are filled with a multi-spaced bracket for installing 120mm to 200mm fans.
—Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
And screw Dalot for that bad pass.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
One loose bolt or misplaced screw is enough to grind the entire contraption to a halt.
—Robert Mays, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Cops have arrested a 28-year-old Bronx man following a brutal explosion of violence, accusing him of attacking his wife and then viciously stabbing his 12-year-old stepdaughter before hammering a screw through her skull, police and sources said Friday.
—Thomas Tracy, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
There wasn't a screw out of joint.
—Time Staff, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
This is an adjustable graphics-card brace, and its screw tightens the part that clamps it to the slide.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Tomahawk missiles One way the White House is turning the screws on Moscow is by mooting the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
The NetZero by 2050 mandate is twisting the wrist that’s turning the screw.
—Paul Craney, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
The robotic hand is seen grasping an M5 screw, picking up an iPhone, and opening a soda can with precision.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ukrainian leader has also repeatedly called for its Western partners to add more sanctions on Russia and its major economic and strategic partners, such as China and India, to turn the screw on Moscow.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Their hoods are covered with special plugs where 2,200 corals grown at the Miami Native Coral Lab in Allapattah will be screwed in.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
The Broncos got screwed on an interference call that placed the ball on the 1-yard line.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
And while the screw-on cap is comprised of BPA-free, durable, and food-safe polypropylene, Brandon recommends always hand-washing the tops and not leaving them out in the sun, as UV light can break down even the best plastics.
—Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025
Gabriel has royally screwed the pooch.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Simply unscrew the base and fill with water, then heap the coffee into the filter basket and screw on the top.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
This screwed a lot of people over.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Both have magnets screwed to one end for attaching the corresponding front or top panel, and both are filled with a multi-spaced bracket for installing 120mm to 200mm fans.
—Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
And screw Dalot for that bad pass.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screw. Accessed 30 Oct. 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)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share