🕳️ A cone-shaped hole 🛠️ A special drill 🔩 To set below surface

countersink

8.6

A cone-shaped hole in wood or metal that lets a screw head sit flush

noun
/ˈkaʊntərˌsɪŋk/

Specialized

: avellanado

I mean, many of my wood screws, many of them are countersunk, many of them are countersunk heads.

Examples

So I've actually added a little countersink in there to aid and bet because I want a low profile.
If you don't use the countersunk ones though, then the the case cover doesn't sit right.
To ensure a smooth finish, the carpenter carefully created a beautiful countersink for each screw.
Before installing the shelves, make sure to drill a countersink for the screws to sit flush against the wood.
He used a drill to make a countersink that allowed the bolts to be level with the surface of the furniture.

Compounds

countersink bit

Specialized

8.6

A drill bit that makes the top of a hole wider so a screw head sits flat with the surface

Surface Forms

countersink singular

countersinks plural

Morphology

countersink = sink (semi-transparent) = counter + sink

The prefix 'counter-' suggests an opposing action, but the specific meaning of creating a hole for a screw head is not directly derivable from 'sink'.

Etymology

Countersink comes from the parts counter- meaning 'against' or 'opposite' and sink meaning 'to go down'. So a countersink is a cone-shaped 'down' hole made so the screw head can sit level with or below the surface.