Ar'chi-me-dē'an, a.

a. [Lat. Archimedeus.] Pertaining to Archimedes, a celebrated Greek philosopher; or to the screw invented by him, as used for raising water, or for the propulsion of vessels; as, an archimedean propeller.

Archimedean screw, or Archimedes screw, an instrument for raising water, formed by winding a flexible tube round a cylinder in the form of a screw. When the screw is placed in an inclined position, and the lower end immersed in water, by causing the screw to revolve, the water is raised to the upper end. Francis.