screwdriver

American  

[skroo-drahy-ver] / ˈskruˌdraɪ vər /

noun

1. a hand tool for turning a screw, consisting of a handle attached to a long, narrow shank, usually of metal, which tapers and flattens out to a tip that fits into the slotted head of a screw.

2. a mixed drink made with vodka and orange juice.

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screwdriver British  

/ ˈskruːˌdraɪvə /

noun

1. a tool used for turning screws, usually having a handle of wood, plastic, etc, and a steel shank with a flattened square-cut tip that fits into a slot in the head of the screw

2. an alcoholic beverage consisting of orange juice and vodka

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Etymology

Origin of screwdriver

First recorded in 1770–80; screw + driver

Example Sentences

Today the big black-and-white birds with their red screwdriver bills thrill East Coast beachgoers with their emphatic whistles once again.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The FBI collected a screwdriver containing Robinson’s DNA on the rooftop of a building at Utah Valley University and a firearm wrapped in a towel that had been discarded in a nearby wooded area.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025

Marks that look like they were made with a screwdriver or crowbar were left behind.

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2025

Getting any product to consumers, whether it's a can of sardines or a screwdriver, requires that supply chains function well.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024

I got a screwdriver from the store and took out the screw; after prying a bit, the door came open rather squeakily.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien