¦ noun
1. 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.
2. an act of turning a screw.
Brit. a small twisted-up piece of paper containing a substance such as salt or tobacco.
3. (also screw propeller) a ship's or aircraft's propeller.
4. informal, derogatory a prison warder.
5. vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
6. Brit. informal, dated an amount of salary or wages.
7. archaic, informal a mean or miserly person.
8. Brit. informal a worn-out horse.
¦ verb
1. 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.
2. informal cheat or swindle.
ruin or render ineffective.
3. vulgar slang have sex with.
Phrases
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.
Phrasal verbs
screw around
1. vulgar slang have many different sexual partners.
2. 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
1. crush a piece of paper or fabric into a tight mass.
tense the muscles of one's face or around one's eyes.
2. informal cause something to go wrong.
3. summon up one's courage.
Derivatives
screwable adjective
screwer noun
Origin
ME (asnoun): from OFr. escroue 'female screw, nut', from L. scrofa, lit. 'sow', later 'screw'.