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corkscrew

American  
[kawrk-skroo] / ˈkɔrkˌskru /

noun

corkscrews plural
  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.


adjective

  1. resembling a corkscrew; helical; spiral.

verb (used with or without object)

corkscrews, present (3rd person singular) corkscrewed, past participle, past corkscrewing present participle
  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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of corkscrew

First recorded in 1805–15; cork + screw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

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

Others are just attention-grabbing oddballs, like Golden Curls, a corkscrew willow with twisted yellow stems.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

He turned the bottle around in his hands and then called for the corkscrew.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep

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