Archimedes' screw — was operated by hand and could raise water efficiently … Wikipedia
Archimedes screw — Screw Screw (skr[udd]), n. [OE. scrue, OF. escroue, escroe, female screw, F. [ e]crou, L. scrobis a ditch, trench, in LL., the hole made by swine in rooting; cf. D. schroef a screw, G. schraube, Icel. skr[=u]fa.] 1. A cylinder, or a cylindrical… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Archimedes' screw — or Archimedean screw n. an ancient water raising device attributed to Archimedes, made up of a spiral tube coiled about a shaft or of a large screw in a cylinder, revolved by hand … English World dictionary
Archimedes' screw — Archimedean Ar chi*me*de an, a. [L. Archimedeus.] Of or pertaining to Archimedes, a celebrated Greek philosopher; constructed on the principle of Archimedes screw; as, Archimedean drill, propeller, etc. [1913 Webster] {Archimedean screw}, or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
archimedes' screw — noun Usage: usually capitalized A : a device consisting of a tube bent spirally around an axis or of a broad threaded screw incased by a hollow open cylinder and used to raise water by rotating the apparatus when partly immersed in a slantwise… … Useful english dictionary
Archimedes' screw — noun Etymology: Archimedes Date: 1728 a device made of a tube bent spirally around an axis or of a broad threaded screw encased by a cylinder and used to raise water … New Collegiate Dictionary
Archimedes screw — noun A screwlike device invented by Greek mathematician Archimedes, ca. 200 , which when twisted inside a cylinder, raises water from a lower level to a higher level, allowing irrigation of fields. Syn: Archimedean screw … Wiktionary
Archimedes'screw — Ar·chi·me·des screw (är kə mēʹdēz) n. See Archimedean screw. * * * … Universalium
Archimedes' screw — a device consisting essentially of a spiral passage within an inclined cylinder for raising water to a height when rotated. Also, Archimedean screw. Also called water snail. [1860 65] * * * … Universalium
Archimedes screw — device for raising water which consists of a spiral passage or a screw encased in a cylinder … English contemporary dictionary
