a screw

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   a small metal object with a pointed end and a spiral ridge, turned into wood or metal to hold things together.

   Grammar: Countable: a screw, two screws. The tool for turning it is a screwdriver.

   Patterns

   • a screw in something
   • tighten a screw
   • loosen a screw

   One screw was missing, so the shelf wobbled.

   He tightened every screw on the chair.

   Use a longer screw to fix the bracket to the wall.

2. 2nounsingular

   a turn of a screw, or the action of twisting something around.

   Grammar: Usually in phrases like 'give it a screw' or 'a screw to the left'.

   Patterns

   • give something a screw
   • a screw to the left

   Give the lid a screw to the right and it will close.

   The cap needs another screw to be tight.

Word forms

Common combinations

tighten a screw

Tighten the screw until the handle stops moving.

a loose screw

A loose screw made the whole frame shake.

a screwdriver

You'll need a screwdriver for these screws.

put in a screw

He put in a screw every ten centimeters.

a screw thread

The screw thread was damaged, so it wouldn't turn.

Synonyms and how they differ

bolt

A bolt is larger and usually needs a nut, while a screw cuts its own way into material.

nail

A nail is hit in with a hammer and holds by friction; a screw is turned in and grips more firmly.

Word family

screw verb

to fasten something by turning a screw.

screwdriver noun

a tool for turning screws.

screwed adjective

fastened with screws; informally, in trouble.

Commonly confused: a screw or nail?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a screw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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