n.
- a short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated in under pressure.
▸a cylinder with a helical ridge or thread running round the outside that can be turned to seal an opening, apply pressure, adjust position, etc.
▸
(the screws)
historical an instrument of torture acting in this way.
- an act of turning a screw.
▸Brit. a small twisted-up piece of paper containing a substance such as salt or tobacco.
-
(also screw propeller)
a ship's or aircraft's propeller.
- informal, derogatory a prison warder.
- vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
- Brit. informal, dated an amount of salary or wages.
- archaic, informal a mean or miserly person.
- Brit. informal a worn-out horse.
v.
- fasten or tighten with a screw or screws.
▸rotate (something) so as to attach or remove it by means of a spiral thread.
▸impart spin or curl to (a ball or shot).
▸
(screw something around/round)
turn one's head or body round sharply.
- informal cheat or swindle.
▸ruin or render ineffective.
- vulgar slang have sex with.
Phrase
- have one's head screwed on
(the right way)
informal have common sense. - have a screw loose
informal be slightly eccentric or mentally disturbed. - put
(or turn or tighten)
the screw
(or screws)
on
informal exert strong psychological pressure on.
Phrase verbal
- screw around
- vulgar slang have many different sexual partners.
- informal fool about.
- screw someone over
informal, chiefly US treat someone unfairly; cheat or swindle someone. - screw up
informal completely mismanage or mishandle a situation. - screw someone up
informal cause someone to be emotionally or mentally disturbed. - screw something up
- crush a piece of paper or fabric into a tight mass.
▸tense the muscles of one's face or around one's eyes.
- informal cause something to go wrong.
- summon up one's courage.
Derivative
- screwable adj.
- screwer n.
Etymology
ME (as n.): from OFr. escroue ‘female screw, nut’, from L. scrofa, lit. ‘sow’, later ‘screw’.