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self-tapping

British  

adjective

  1. (of a screw) cutting its own thread when screwed into a plain hole in a metal sheet

"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

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.

He bought a small, cordless Makita drill outfitted with a nut driver that allowed him to drive hundreds of tiny self-tapping screws.

From Washington Post

Because the anchors are self-tapping, you usually don’t even need to pre-drill, although a ⅛-inch-diameter starter hole helps if you’re going through thick paint or wallpaper.

From Washington Post

Self-tapping drywall anchors made of metal or plastic have big, relatively coarse threads on the outside, which allows them to grip reasonably well, even in crumbly gypsum.

From Washington Post

In this case, the cut-off bolts and the new self-tapping screws were enough.

From Time Magazine Archive

Here, bolts had to be drilled out, but self-tapping screws are more common.

From Time Magazine Archive