screw definition

screw   /skru/ [skroo]  
–noun 1. 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.
2. a threaded cylindrical pin or rod with a head at one end, engag ing a threaded hole and used either as a fastener or as a simple machine for applying power, as in a clamp, jack, etc. Compare bolt 1 (def. 3).
3. British. a tapped or threaded hole.
4. something having a spiral form.
5. screw propeller. 
6. Usually, screws. physical or mental coercion: The terrified debtor soon felt the gangster's screws. 
7. a single turn of a screw.
8. a twist, turn, or twisting movement.
9. Chiefly British. a. a little salt, sugar, tobacco, etc., carried in a twist of paper.
b. Slang. a mean, old, or worn-out horse; a horse from which one can obtain no further service.
c. Slang. a friend or employer from whom one can obtain no more money.
d. Slang. a miser.
 
10. British Informal. salary; wages.
11. Slang. a prison guard.
12. Slang: Vulgar. a. an act of coitus.
b. a person viewed as a sexual partner.
 

–verb (used with object) 13. 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.
14. to operate or adjust by a screw, as a press.
15. to attach with a screw or screws: to screw a bracket to a wall. 
16. to insert, fasten, undo, or work (a screw, bolt, nut, bottle top with a helical thread, etc.) by turning.
17. to contort as by twisting; distort: Father screwed his face into a grimace of disgust. 
18. to cause to become sufficiently strong or intense (usually fol. by up): I screwed up my courage to ask for a raise. 
19. to coerce or threaten.
20. to extract or extort.
21. to force (a seller) to lower a price (often fol. by down).
22. Slang. to cheat or take advantage of (someone).
23. Slang: Vulgar. to have coitus with.

–verb (used without object) 24. to turn as or like a screw.
25. 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): This top screws on easily. 
26. to turn or move with a twisting or rotating motion.
27. to practice extortion.
28. Slang: Vulgar. to have coitus.

—Verb phrases
29. screw around, Slang. a. to waste time in foolish or frivolous activity: If you'd stop screwing around we could get this job done. 
b. Vulgar. to engage in promiscuous sex.
 
30. screw off, Slang. a. to do nothing; loaf.
b. to leave; go away.
 
31. screw up, Slang. a. to ruin through bungling or stupidity: Somehow the engineers screwed up the entire construction project. 
b. to make a botch of something; blunder.
c. to make confused, anxious, or neurotic.
 

—Idioms
32. have a screw loose, Slang. to be eccentric or neurotic; have crazy ideas: You must have a screw loose to keep so many cats. 
33. put the screws on, to compel by exerting pressure on; use coercion on; force: They kept putting the screws on him for more money.