thread
thread definition
thread (t̸hred)
noun
- a light, fine, stringlike length of material made up of two or more fibers or strands of spun cotton, flax, silk, etc. twisted together and used in sewing
- a similar fine length of synthetic material, as nylon or plastic, or of glass or metal
- the fine, stringy filament extruded by a spider, silkworm, etc.
- any of the yarns of which a fabric is woven
- a fine, stringy length of syrup or other viscous material
- any thin line, stratum, vein, stream, ray, etc.
- an element suggestive of a thread in being continuous or sequential the thread of a story
- the helical ridge of a screw, bolt, nut, etc.
- ☆ Slang a suit, or clothes generally
Etymology: ME threde < OE thræd (akin to Ger draht) < base of thrawan, to twist: see throw
transitive verb
- to put a thread through the eye of (a needle, etc.)
- to arrange thread for use on (a sewing machine)
- to string (beads, etc.) on or as if on a thread
- to fashion a thread (sense ) on or in (a screw, pipe, etc.)
- to interweave with or as if with threads a red tapestry threaded with gold
- to pass through by twisting, turning, or weaving in and out to thread the streets
- to make (one's way) in this fashion
- to pass or feed (tape, film, etc.) into or through (a recorder, projector, etc.)
intransitive verb
- to go along or proceed in a winding way
- ☆ to form a thread when dropped from a spoon: said of boiling syrup that has reached a certain consistency
Related Forms:
- threader thread′er noun
- threadlike thread′·like′ adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Related Discussions (2)
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| thread modified | 3 | 7 months ago |
| Thread for tearing open package | 17 | 6 years ago |
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