screw

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a thin pointed piece of metal like a nail with a raised SPIRAL line (called a THREAD) along it and a line or cross cut into its head. Screws are turned and pressed into wood, metal, etc. with a SCREWDRIVER in order to fasten two things together: One of the screws is loose. * Now tighten all the screws. seealsoCORKSCREW 2 [C] an act of turning a screw 3 [sing.] (!!!, slang) an act of having sex: He hadn't had a screw for weeks. 4 [sing.] (!!!, slang) a partner in sex: a good screw 5 [C] a PROPELLER on a ship, a motor boat or an aircraft: a twin-screw cruiser 6 [C] (BrE, slang) a prison officer IDIOMS have a screw loose to be slightly strange in your behaviour put the screws on (sb) to force sb to do sth by frightening and threatening them moreatTURNn. verb 1 [VN+adv./prep.] to fasten one thing to another or make sth tight with a screw or screws: The bookcase is screwed to the wall. * You need to screw all the parts together. * Now screw down the lid. 2 to twist sth around in order to fasten it in place: [VN, +adv./prep.] She screwed the cap back on the jar. * [VN-ADJ] Screw the bolt tight. 3 [V] to be attached by screwing: The bulb should just screw into the socket. * The lid simply screws on. 4 [VN] ~ sth up (into sth)