[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/screw.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / screw

[← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/S/)

# screw

«screw» in Mova's school dictionary: **A small pointed metal pin with a spiral ridge, turned…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a screw, screws); verb (screw, screws, screwed, screwing)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A small pointed metal pin with a spiral ridge, turned with a screwdriver to hold things together. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m1)

2) (verb) To fix something with screws, or to turn something round to fasten it: screw on the lid. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m2)

3) (verb) To twist or squeeze into a shape: screw up your eyes, screw up the paper. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m3)

4) Screw up (informal): to make a mess of something or make a big mistake. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m4)

5) (slang, rude) Screwed: in deep trouble; «screw it» or «screw you» is a rude way to show anger. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m5)

6) (verb, informal) To cheat someone out of money: we got screwed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#m6)

### sense in the lessons

In science and technology lessons a screw is one of the simple machines, like a twisted ramp. In everyday life you screw lids on jars and bulbs into sockets. In real speech, «I screwed up» means I made a mistake; «we're screwed» means we are in trouble — informal and a bit rude. Phrases: screw up, screw on, a screw loose (joke: a bit mad), turn the screw.

### examples

- Dad used four screws to fix the shelf. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x1)
- Screw the lid on tightly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x2)
- She screwed up her eyes in the bright sun. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x3)
- I screwed up the paper and threw it in the bin. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x4)
- I totally screwed up my lines in the play. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x5)
- (slang) If we miss the last bus, we're screwed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x6)
- Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey: turn the screw clockwise to tighten it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x7)
- Then her father took the bottle and the cork-screw into his hands. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/#x8)

### note

Screw up (informal) is fine with friends but not in formal writing; «screw you» is rude. Some uses of screw are vulgar slang; avoid them at school. A screwdriver is the tool. Most screws tighten clockwise.

### In the corpora

- [Suck a slice of lemon and your whole face screws up.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/chemistry/15-acids-in-the-kitchen/0/)
- ["Has a screw loose" means is a bit mad or acts strangely.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/36-dim-and-round-the-bend/12/)
- [A screw is a ramp wrapped round a rod, and each turn moves it in a little way with a big push.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/physics/34-wheels-axles-ramps-and-screws/9/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «screw» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/screw/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.