Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of fastener: A metal fastener with a spiral ridge (thread) around a pointed shaft, designed to be turned into a material to hold things together.
   • A propeller: A propeller on a ship or aircraft, consisting of blades set at an angle to the hub.
   • A simple machine: An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, used to convert rotational motion into linear force.
   • Slang for sexual intercourse: (Vulgar) An act of sexual intercourse.
   • A prison guard: (Slang) A prison guard or warden.
   • A miserly person: (Informal) A stingy or unpleasant person.

2. Verb:

   • To fasten or tighten with a screw: To attach, fasten, or tighten something using a screw or a screwing motion.
   • To twist or turn: To move or cause to move with a twisting motion, like a screw.
   • To contort or tighten (a part of the face): To tighten or contract a part of the face, such as the eyes or mouth.
   • To pressure or extort: To force or pressure someone into doing something, often to obtain money or information.
   • Slang for sexual intercourse: (Vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with someone.
   • To cheat or swindle: (Informal) To defeat or take advantage of someone through trickery.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • I need a screw to fix this loose hinge. (Referring to the fastener.)
  • The ship's screw churned the water. (Referring to the propeller.)
  • He's such a screw; he never buys a round of drinks. (Referring to a stingy person.)

• Verb:

  • Please screw the lid back on the jar. (To fasten by turning.)
  • She screwed up her face in disgust. (To contort the face.)
  • The landlord tried to screw more rent out of the tenants. (To extort or pressure.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a screw loose": (Idiom) To be slightly crazy or eccentric.

  • He thinks he can fly? He must have a screw loose.

• "to put the screws on (someone)": (Idiom) To pressure or force someone to do something.

  • The boss is putting the screws on us to finish the project early.

Variants and Related Words

• Screwdriver (n): A tool for turning screws.
• Screwball (n, adj): (Informal) An eccentric or crazy person; (in baseball) a type of pitch.
• Screwy (adj): (Informal) Crazy, absurd, or illogical.
  • That's a screwy idea.

Synonyms

• Fasten, tighten, attach (verb, for the action of securing).
• Propeller, rotor (noun, for the mechanical part).
• Miser, skinflint (noun, for a stingy person).
• Swindle, cheat, defraud (verb, for the action of tricking).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Screw around: (Informal) To waste time or act foolishly; to be sexually promiscuous.

  • Stop screwing around and get to work.

• Screw up: (Informal) To make a mistake or mess something up; to tighten or fasten completely; to contort (one's face).

  • I really screwed up the presentation. (To make a mistake.)
  • Screw up the lid tightly. (To fasten.)
  • He screwed up his eyes against the bright light. (To contort.)

• Screw over: (Informal) To treat someone unfairly; to cheat or betray someone.

  • The company screwed over its employees by cutting their benefits.

Related Idioms

• A turn of the screw: An action that makes a bad situation worse, especially by increasing pressure.

  • The new deadline was just another turn of the screw for the stressed team.

• Screw your courage to the sticking-place: To summon or strengthen one's bravery or resolve. (From Shakespeare's Macbeth)

  • You need to screw your courage to the sticking-place and ask for the promotion.

Noun

1. slang for sexual intercourse
2. a fastener with a tapered threaded shank and a slotted head
3. a propeller with several angled blades that rotates to push against water or air
4. a simple machine of the inclined-plane type consisting of a spirally threaded cylindrical rod that engages with a similarly threaded hole
5. someone who guards prisoners

Verb

1. defeat someone through trickery or deceit
2. tighten or fasten by means of screwing motions
   • Screw the bottle cap on
3. cause to penetrate, as with a circular motion
   • drive in screws or bolts
4. turn like a screw
5. have sexual intercourse with
   • This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
   • Adam knew Eve
   • Were you ever intimate with this man?