What does "corkscrew" mean?
An implement for opening bottles that are sealed by a cork. Sometimes specifically such an implement that includes a screw-shaped part, or worm.
Corkscrew
/ˈkɔɹk.skɹu/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An implement for opening bottles that are sealed by a cork. Sometimes specifically such an implement that includes a screw-shaped part, or worm.
- Grammar: corkscrew is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: anfractuous, aspirator, auger, bottle opener.
- Useful contrasts: direct, insert, jam.
- Usage evidence: Does anybody here have a corkscrew?
How to use "corkscrew"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "corkscrew" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "corkscrew" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "corkscrew" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "corkscrew" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "corkscrew" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "anfractuous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "corkscrew", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An implement for opening bottles that are sealed by a cork. Sometimes specifically such an implement that includes a screw-shaped part, or worm.
"I opened the wine with a corkscrew."
- 2 a bottle opener that pulls corks wordnet
- 3 The screw-shaped worm of a typical corkscrew.
"A bubble rising rapidly in water describes a spiral closely resembling a corkscrew."
- 4 A type of sharp, twisting punch, often one thrown close and from the side.
"[…] the immovable McCoy let fly his most miraculous punch of the evening, of his lives, a world-beater of a right corkscrew, a punch years in the windup […]"
- 5 A type of inversion used in roller coasters.
"A corkscrew has a 90° turn just prior to the loop and a 90° turn just afterward."
Verb
- 1 To wind or twist in the manner of a corkscrew; to move with much horizontal and vertical shifting. intransitive
"Into the tea–room Mr. Pickwick turned; and catching sight of him, Mr. Bantam corkscrewed his way through the crowd and welcomed him with ecstasy."
- 2 move in a spiral or zigzag course wordnet
- 3 To cause something to twist or move in a spiral path or shape. transitive
"Caught and twisted—corkscrewed in the mazes of the line, loose harpoons and lances, with all their bristling barbs and points, came flashing and dripping up to the chocks in the bows of Ahab’s boat."
- 4 To extract information or consent from someone. informal, transitive
"I strongly suspect (from what Small has dropped, and from what we have corkscrewed out of him) that those letters I was to have brought to your ladyship were not destroyed when I supposed they were."
Adjective
- 1 Having the tightly winding shape of a corkscrew. not-comparable
"Then the old gentleman spun himself round with velocity in the opposite direction, continued to spin until his long cloak was all wound neatly about him, clapped his cap on his head, very much on one side (for it could not stand upright without going through the ceiling), gave an additional twist to his corkscrew mustaches, and replied with perfect coolness."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Does anybody here have a corkscrew?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "corkscrew"?
Common synonyms include: anfractuous, aspirator, auger, bottle opener, bottle opener, bottle screw.
How do you use "corkscrew" in a sentence?
Does anybody here have a corkscrew?
How do you pronounce "corkscrew"?
Pronounced /ˈkɔɹk.skɹu/.
Etymology
From cork + screw.