b : something that shelters, protects, or conceals
2 : a sieve or perforated material for separating finer from coarser parts (as of sand)
3 : a surface on which an image is made to appear (as in television); also : the information displayed on a computer screen at one time
4 : the motion-picture industry
Synonyms
[1b] aegis, armor, cover, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, security, shield, wall, ward—more at DEFENSE
2screen verb 1 : to shield with or as if with a screen
2 : to separate with or as if with a screen; also : to select or categorize methodically <~ contestants>
3 : to present (as a motion picture) on the screen
Synonyms
cover, defend, guard, protect, safeguard, secure, shield, ward—more at DEFEND
blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, mask, obscure, occult, shroud, veil—more at HIDE
screen·ing noun 1 : metal or plastic mesh (as for window screens)
2 : a showing of a motion picture
screen saver noun : a computer program that displays something (as images) on the screen of a computer that is on but not in use
1screw noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. MF escroe female screw, nut, fr. ML scrofa, fr. L, sow]
1 : a machine consisting of a solid cylinder with a spiral groove around it and a corresponding hollow cylinder into which it fits
2 : a naillike metal piece with a spiral groove and a head with a slot that is inserted into material by rotating and is used to fasten pieces of solid material together
3 : PROPELLER
2screw verb 1 : to fasten or close by means of a screw
2 : to operate or adjust by means of a screw
3 : to move or cause to move spirally; also : to close or set in position by such an action
4 : to twist into strained configurations : CONTORT <~ed up his face>
Synonyms
contort, deform, distort, warp—more at CONTORT
screw·ball noun 1 : a baseball pitch breaking in a direction opposite to a curve
2 : a whimsical, eccentric, or crazy person
Synonyms
character, crackpot, crank, eccentric, kook, nut, oddball, weirdo—more at ECCENTRIC
screw·driv·er noun 1 : a tool for turning screws
2 : a drink made of vodka and orange juice
screw·worm noun : an American blowfly of warm regions whose larva matures in wounds or sores of mammals and may cause disease or death; especially : its larva
screwy adjective screw·i·er; -est 1 : crazily absurd, eccentric, or unusual
2 : disordered in mind : CRAZY
Synonyms
bizarre, curious, far-out, funny, kinky, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, quirky, remarkable, strange, wacky, weird, wild—more at ODD
scrib·ble verb scrib·bled; scrib·bling : to write hastily or carelessly
— scribble noun
— scrib·bler noun
Synonyms
author, pen, scratch, write—more at WRITE
scribe noun 1 : a scholar of Jewish law in New Testament times
2 : a person whose business is the copying of writing
3 : JOURNALIST
Synonyms
clerk, register, registrar—more at CLERK
scrim noun : a light loosely woven cotton or linen cloth
1scrimmage noun 1 : the play between two football teams beginning with the snap of the ball; also : practice play between two teams
2 : a confused fight
Synonyms
battle, clash, combat, conflict, contest, fight, fracas, fray, hassle, scrap, scuffle, skirmish, struggle, tussle—more at FIGHT
2scrimmage verb scrim·maged; scrim·mag·ing : to take part in a scrimmage
Synonyms
usually scrimmage with battle, clash, combat, fight, skirmish, war—more at FIGHT