corkscrew

American  

[kawrk-skroo] / ˈkɔrkˌskru /

noun

1. an instrument typically consisting of a metal spiral with a sharp point at one end and a transverse handle at the other, used for drawing corks from bottles.

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adjective

1. resembling a corkscrew; helical; spiral.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to move in a spiral or zigzag course.

corkscrew British  

/ ˈkɔːkˌskruː /

noun

1. a device for drawing corks from bottles, typically consisting of a pointed metal spiral attached to a handle or screw mechanism

2. slang boxing a blow that ends with a twist of the fist, esp one intended to cut the opponent

3. (modifier) resembling a corkscrew in shape

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verb

1. to move or cause to move in a spiral or zigzag course

Etymology

Origin of corkscrew

First recorded in 1805–15; cork + screw

Example Sentences

She is a fashionable woman, with corkscrew curls coming down in front of her ears.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Once the eggs hatch, the maggots burrow into flesh in a corkscrew motion, which is how the insect got its name.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

With her electric green eyes, corkscrew hair and husky contralto voice, Dame Cleo became the most recognisable British jazz singer in history.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2025

Equal parts object of design and functionality, this accordion-style corkscrew wine opener is made of nickel-plated steel and was first invented in France in the 1920s.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2024

The model looks like a latticework corkscrew invented by a madman, or an impossibly fragile spiral staircase that might connect the human past to its future.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• crest
• flood
• influx
• movement
• outbreak
• rash
• rush
• sign
• stream
• surge
• swell
• tide
• upsurge