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Definition of "screw" []

  • A cylindrical rod incised with one or more helical or advancing spiral threads, as a lead screw or worm screw. (noun)
  • The tapped collar or socket that receives this rod. (noun)
  • A metal pin with incised threads and a broad slotted head that can be driven as a fastener by turning with a screwdriver, especially: (noun)
  • A tapered and pointed wood screw. (noun)
  • A cylindrical and flat-tipped machine screw. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "screw" in a sentence
  • "Bureau chief Small chided me for using the word screw on the air, which had elicited complaints from the Bible Belt."
  • "BTW, for those of you who have noticed that I use the term screw up often when discussing Obama's policies, if you look at election history the incumbent party only loses when the voters perceive they have screwed up."
  • "The fixing of the screw is the end result of intelligent guidance coupled with the use of the appropriate enabling tools."