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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Screw


SCREW, noun

1. A cylinder of wood or metal, grooved spirally; or a cylinder with a spiral channel or thread cut in such a manner that it is equally inclined to the base of the cylinder throughout the whole length. A screw is male or female. In the male screw the thread rises from the surface of the cylinder; in the female, the groove or channel is sunk below the surface to receive the thread of the male screw

2. One of the six mechanical powers.

SCREW, verb transitive

1. To turn or apply a screw to; to press, fasten or make firm by a screw; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press.

2. To force; to squeeze; to press.

3. To oppress by exactions. Landlords sometimes screw and rack their tenants without mercy.

4. To deform by contortions; to distort.

He screw'd his face into a harden'd smile.

To screw out, to press out; to extort.

To screw up to force; to bring by violent pressure; as, to screw up the pins of power too high.

To screw in, to force in by turning or twisting.