corkscrew: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, used in both formal and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “corkscrew” mean?
A tool, typically a metal spiral attached to a handle, used for pulling corks from bottles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tool, typically a metal spiral attached to a handle, used for pulling corks from bottles.
Anything resembling a corkscrew in shape, particularly a spiral or helical form, or a movement that follows a spiral path. As a verb, to move or cause to move in a spiral or twisting path.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The object and core concept are identical. The verb may be slightly more common in British English for describing certain types of erratic, twisting movement.
Connotations
Identical. Evokes wine, celebration, or difficulty of extraction. Verb implies uncontrolled, chaotic, or agile movement.
Frequency
Noun is of similar mid-range frequency in both varieties. The verb form is considered a lexicalised compound and is less common than the noun.
Grammar
How to Use “corkscrew” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] + corkscrew + [OBJ] (He corkscrewed the plane out of the dive).[SUBJ] + corkscrew + PREP. (The road corkscrews up the mountainside).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corkscrew” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The motorcyclist had to corkscrew through the heavy traffic.
- The damaged plane began to corkscrew towards the ground.
American English
- The football quarterback corkscrewed out of the defender's grasp.
- The tornado's funnel cloud corkscrewed violently across the plain.
adverb
British English
- The vine grew corkscrew around the old fence post.
American English
- His hair fell corkscrew over his forehead.
adjective
British English
- We descended the corkscrew staircase into the cellar.
- He has a rather corkscrew way of explaining things.
American English
- The corkscrew slide was the most popular attraction at the park.
- They drove down the corkscrew mountain road cautiously.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in marketing for describing a product's shape or a sales 'twist'.
Academic
Rare outside of specific technical fields (physics, engineering, aviation) describing helical shapes or motion.
Everyday
Common for the tool. Figurative verb/adjective used in descriptive language.
Technical
Used in aviation to describe a specific, steep, spiraling dive maneuver.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corkscrew”
- Spelling as two words: 'cork screw'. It is a closed compound.
- Overusing the verb form.
- Confusing with 'bottle opener' (which is more general).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, closed compound word: 'corkscrew'. Writing it as two words ('cork screw') is considered incorrect in modern English.
Yes, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to move or cause to move in a spiral or twisting path', e.g., 'The road corkscrews up the hill.'
A corkscrew is a specific type of tool designed primarily to remove corks (stoppers made of cork) from wine and other bottles. A bottle opener is a more general tool for removing non-cork caps, like metal crown caps from beer bottles.
Yes, in aviation, a 'corkscrew' refers to a specific aerobatic maneuver or an uncontrolled, spiraling descent, making it a technical term within that field.
A tool, typically a metal spiral attached to a handle, used for pulling corks from bottles.
Corkscrew is usually neutral, used in both formal and informal contexts. in register.
Corkscrew: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːkskruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrkskruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(go) down the corkscrew (golf slang: a poor, twisting shot)”
- “a corkscrew mind (a mind that thinks in complex, twisting ways, though this is rare).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CORK needing a SCREW-shaped tool to be pulled from a bottle.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHAPE FOR OBJECT (Spiral shape gives its name to the tool). PATH IS A SPIRAL (For the verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'corkscrew' used LEAST appropriately?