a metal fastener having a tapered shank with a helical thread, and topped with a slotted head, driven into wood or the like by rotating, esp. by means of a screwdriver.
a threaded cylindrical pin or rod with a head at one end, engaging a threaded hole and used either as a fastener or as a simple machine for applying power, as in a clamp, jack, etc. Cf. (def. 3).
a tapped or threaded hole.
something having a spiral form.
See
Usually,physical or mental coercion: The terrified debtor soon felt the gangster's screws.
a single turn of a screw.
a twist, turn, or twisting movement.
a little salt, sugar, tobacco, etc., carried in a twist of paper.
Slang.a mean, old, or worn-out horse; a horse from which one can obtain no further service.
Slang.a friend or employer from whom one can obtain no more money.
Slang.a miser.
salary; wages.
a prison guard.
.
an act of coitus.
a person viewed as a sexual partner.
to be eccentric or neurotic; have crazy ideas: You must have a screw loose to keep so many cats.
to compel by exerting pressure on; use coercion on; force: They kept putting the screws on him for more money.
—v.t.
to fasten, tighten, force, press, stretch tight, etc., by or as if by means of a screw or device operated by a screw or helical threads.
to operate or adjust by a screw, as a press.
to attach with a screw or screws: to screw a bracket to a wall.
to insert, fasten, undo, or work (a screw, bolt, nut, bottle top with a helical thread, etc.) by turning.
to contort as by twisting; distort: Father screwed his face into a grimace of disgust.
to cause to become sufficiently strong or intense (usually fol. by up): I screwed up my courage to ask for a raise.
to coerce or threaten.
to extract or extort.
to force (a seller) to lower a price (often fol. by down).
to cheat or take advantage of (someone).
. to have coitus with.
—v.i.
to turn as or like a screw.
to be adapted for being connected, taken apart, opened, or closed by means of a screw or screws or parts with helical threads (usually fol. by on, together, or off&hasp;): This top screws on easily.
to turn or move with a twisting or rotating motion.
to practice extortion.
. to have coitus.
If you'd stop screwing around we could get this job done.
to waste time in foolish or frivolous activity:If you'd stop screwing around we could get this job done.
Vulgar.to engage in promiscuous sex.
to do nothing; loaf.
to leave; go away.
Somehow the engineers screwed up the entire construction project.
to ruin through bungling or stupidity:Somehow the engineers screwed up the entire construction project.