SCREW
What does "SCREW" mean?
A metal fastener with a helical ridge that bores into material as it is turned.
Meanings
- A threaded fastener turned to grip or join materials. He drove a brass screw into the hinge to stop the door rattling.
- A helical device, such as a ship's propeller, that converts rotation into motion. The steamer's screw churned the harbour water white. technical
- To fasten, tighten, or rotate something with a twisting motion. Screw the lid on tightly before you shake the jar.
- To cheat, defraud, or treat someone unfairly. The landlord screwed them on the security deposit. informal
- A prison guard. The screw on the night shift never made eye contact. informal
Did you know?
- The screw as a machine is over two thousand years old: the helical water-lifting Archimedes' screw was described in the 3rd century BC and is still used today to move water and grain.
Word origin
From Old French 'escroue' (a nut, female thread), of disputed origin, possibly from Latin 'scrofa' (sow) by way of the resemblance of a pig's tail to a spiral.
Remember it
SCREW spirals down: each letter Spirals, Cuts, Rotates, Eases, then Wedges tight.
A little poem
A small steel whirlwind
biting deeper with each turn-
the door learns to stay.
haiku
Wordplay
- Why did the bolt break up with the screw? It said the relationship had too many turns and not enough give.
What it teaches
Progress that holds is rarely a push; it is the slow, turning grip that bites a little deeper each time.
Quick facts
What does SCREW mean?
A metal fastener with a helical ridge that bores into material as it is turned.
Is SCREW a valid word?
Yes — SCREW is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SCREW?
SCREW has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SCREW come from?
From Old French 'escroue' (a nut, female thread), of disputed origin, possibly from Latin 'scrofa' (sow) by way of the resemblance of a pig's tail to a spiral.
What can SCREW teach us?
Progress that holds is rarely a push; it is the slow, turning grip that bites a little deeper each time.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.