Shank: The smooth area of the fastener between the head and the thread. Screw types vary and some screws do not have a smooth shank. Thread: The ridge that wraps around the cylinder and forms a helix.

Jam Handy! Provides a detailed overview of the process of cutting screw threads on a lathe. It explains the different types ...

Part of that is probably because we’ve gotten so good at making them that they’re seen as cheap commodities, but the physics and engineering behind the screw thread is interesting stuff.