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screw

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A metal fastener made up of a partially or completely threaded shank, sometimes with a threaded point….

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

skroo
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈskɹu

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a partially or completely threaded shank, sometimes with a threaded point, and a head used to both hold the top material and to drive the screw either directly into a soft material or into a prepared hole.

  2. A fastener with a tapered threaded shank and a slotted head

  3. A simple machine of the inclined-plane type consisting of a spirally threaded cylindrical rod that engages with a similarly threaded hole

  4. A device that has a helical function.

  5. A steam vessel propelled by a screw instead of wheels.

  6. informalin the pluralwith "the"

    Rheumatism.

verb

  1. transitive

    To extort or practice extortion upon; to oppress by unreasonable or extortionate exactions; to put the screws on.

  2. transitive

    To contort.

  3. transitiveslang

    To cheat someone or ruin their chances in a game or other situation.

  4. colloquialtransitive

    To give up on, to abandon, delay, to not think about someone or something.

  5. transitive

    To connect or assemble pieces using a screw.

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a partially or completely threaded shank, sometimes with a threaded point, and a head used to both hold the top material and to drive the screw either directly into a soft material or into a prepared hole.

Used this way, screw is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use screw

  • “He used a screwdriver to tighten the loose screw on the door hinge.”

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More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: (usually) metal fastener consisting of a partially

bed

Antonyms

Sense: to extort or practice extortion upon

unscrew

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.