corkscrew

1 of 3

noun

cork·​screw ˈkȯrk-ˌskrü How to pronounce corkscrew (audio)
: a device for drawing corks from bottles that has a pointed spiral piece of metal turned by a handle

corkscrew

2 of 3

adjective

: resembling a corkscrew : spiral

corkscrew

3 of 3

verb

corkscrewed; corkscrewing; corkscrews

transitive verb

1
2
: to draw out with difficulty
3
: to twist into a spiral

intransitive verb

: to move in a winding course

Examples of corkscrew in a Sentence

Adjective an angelic child with beautiful corkscrew curls Verb practically every word had to be corkscrewed out of the tight-lipped witness the trail corkscrews through dense woods to the top of the steep hill
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This individual doesn’t want to budge and may throw some corkscrews into your plans at this time. Kyle Thomas, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024 This wine key—which differs from a bulky, tedious two-armed corkscrew—is compact, elegant, and crafted from durable stainless steel and laminated wood. Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The singer, 55, stepped out with the big corkscrew curls she was famed for wearing throughout the 1990s at the Catch Steak restaurant in Aspen, Colo., on Thursday, Dec. 27. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 Swift’s high school principal of two years, Paul Decker, still remembers the teenager with corkscrew curls walking into his office the summer of 2004 with her mom. Amber Roberson, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
Back in 2011, a tornado tore through Western and Central Massachusetts, corkscrewing the frame of their previous home off the foundation like a twisted dollhouse. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024 The Spiral, which corkscrews down 11 decks; MSC claims is the largest of its kind at sea. Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for corkscrew 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1698, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1790, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of corkscrew was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near corkscrew

Cite this Entry

“Corkscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corkscrew. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

corkscrew

1 of 2 noun
cork·​screw ˈkȯrk-ˌskrü How to pronounce corkscrew (audio)
: a pointed spiral tool with a handle for pulling corks from bottles

corkscrew

2 of 2 adjective
: resembling a corkscrew : spiral

More from Merriam-Webster on corkscrew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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