corkscrew
Elementary (A2)
IPA: //ˈkɔːrkˌskruː//
KK: /ˈkɔrkˌskru/
noun
Definition
A tool used to remove corks from bottles, featuring a spiral metal piece that is twisted into the cork and pulled out.
Example
He used a corkscrew to open the bottle of wine.
Conversation
Do you have a corkscrew I can borrow for the wine tonight?
Sure, I have one in the kitchen drawer.
Great! I always forget how useful a corkscrew is when hosting.
Yeah, it definitely comes in handy for opening bottles.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
opener
extractor
twister
Antonyms
stopper
seal
cap
verb
Definition
To move or cause to move in a spiral or winding path.
Example
The car corkscrewed down the mountain road, twisting and turning sharply.
Tense Forms
Past: corkscrewed
Past Participle: corkscrewed
Conversation
Have you ever seen a corkscrew in action?
No, I haven't! How does it work?
It's really cool — it corkscrews into the cork and pulls it out smoothly.
Root Explanation
Corkscrew → The word is formed from "cork" (from Old French *cork*, meaning the material used to seal bottles) and "screw" (from Old English *scrūwan*, meaning to turn or twist). A corkscrew is a tool designed to twist into a cork to remove it from a bottle.
Memory Tip
Think of a tool that 'twists' ('screw') into a 'cork' to remove it from a bottle — that's what a corkscrew does.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.