screw jack
- noun
- /skruː dʒæk/
- Specialized
- With the help of a screw jack, they were able to raise the heavy beam safely.
Examples
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Pow-R-Jac, a division of Limitorque, an ISO 9001 registered company, has released a line of linear actuators, ball and machine screw jacks with a full range of control options and accessories.
Academic text (1996) -
The mechanic used a screw jack to lift the car for repairs.
-
Using human strength and mechanical screw jacks, they bend the rim inch by inch around the shape defined by the press.
Academic text (1994) -
To change the tire, he utilized a screw jack to elevate the vehicle off the ground.
Synonyms
A device that uses a screw to lift or move heavy things
How Strong
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: it denotes a jack that operates by a screw mechanism, so the senses of 'screw' (threaded rod) and 'jack' (lifting device) combine transparently. This follows common instrument-naming patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Screw jack is the name for a simple lift that uses a big screw inside a jack: when you turn the screw, the top moves up or down to 'lift' heavy things. That's why screw jack means 'a tool that raises or lowers heavy loads'.