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   screw

   /skruː/

   noun

   • 1. a short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running round it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated so that it pierces wood or other material and is held tightly in place. Similar boltfastenernailpintackspikerivetbrad
   • ▪ a cylinder with a helical ridge or thread running round the outside (a male screw) that can be turned to seal an opening, apply pressure, adjust position, etc., especially one fitting into a corresponding internally grooved or threaded piece (a female screw).
   • ▪ a ship's or aircraft's propeller (considered as acting like a screw in moving through water or air). Similar propellerrotor
   • ▪ an instrument of torture having the action of a screw. historical
   • 2. an act of turning a screw or other object having a thread. Similar turntwistwrenchleverheave
   • ▪ backspin given to the cue ball by hitting it below centre, intended to make it move backwards after striking the object ball. British
   • ▪ a small twisted-up piece of paper, typically containing a substance such as salt or tobacco. British
   • 3. a prisoner's derogatory term for a warder: informal "she was frightened by the look of the screws"
   • 4. an act or instance of having sex. vulgar slang
   • ▪ a sexual partner of a specified ability.
   • 5. an amount of salary or wages: informal, dated British "he's offered me the job with a jolly good screw"
   • 6. a mean or miserly person. archaic, informal
   • 7. a worn-out horse. informal British

   verb

   • 1. fasten or tighten with a screw or screws: "screw the hinge to your new door" Similar fastensecurefixattachclampboltrivetbatten
   • ▪ rotate (something) so as to fit it into or on to a surface or object by means of a spiral thread: "Philip screwed the top on the flask" Similar tightenturntwistwindwork
   • ▪ (of an object) be attached or removed by being rotated by means of a spiral thread: "a connector which screws on to the gas cylinder"
   • 2. cheat or swindle (someone), especially by charging them too much for something: informal "the loss of advertising contracts will amount to more than the few quid that they're trying to screw us for" Similar cheatswindledefraudfleeceoverchargeshort-changeinformal:rip offbilkdiddledostingsoakrobclipskinstiffgougedated:gazumprusharchaic:cozenrare:mulct
   • ▪ be in serious trouble: "if you're colour-blind, you're screwed"
   • 3. have sex with. vulgar slang
   • ▪ (of a couple) have sex.
   • ▪ used to express anger or contempt: "I saw red and thought, ‘Screw you!’"
   • 4. impart spin or curl to (a ball or shot): "Collins had a late chance to equalize but screwed his shot wide"
   • ▪ play a shot with screw: British "Johnson chose to screw back for the pink"

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a noun): from Old French escroue ‘female screw, nut’, from Latin scrofa, literally ‘sow’, later ‘screw’. The early sense of the verb was ‘contort (the features), twist around’ (late 16th century).

   Derivatives

   • 1. screwable adjective
   • 2. screwer noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • W

     4

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