Etymology : Middle English thred, from Old English thr[AE]d; akin to Old High German drAt wire, Old English thrAwan to cause to twist or turn; more at THROW
Pronunciation : 'thred
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. string, thin cord; spiral groove on a screw or bolt; chain of messages on a particular subject on the Internet (Computers); execution procedure which is part of an application (Computers). put a thread through a needle; pass something through an opening; move through slowly and cautiously; cut a spiral groove (on a bolt or screw). thread\thread\ (thr&ebreve;d), n. [oe. threed, ?red, as. ?r&aemacr;d; akin to d. draad, g. draht wire, thread, ohg. drāt, icel. ?rā?r a thread, sw. tr?d, dan. traad, and as. ?rāwan to twist. see:
throw, and cf. third.].
2. a very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted.
3. a filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark; also, a line of gold or silver.
4. the prominent part of the spiral of a screw or nut; the rib. see:
screw, n.,.
5. 4. fig.: something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s the thread of life, or of a discourse. burnet.
6. fig.: composition; quality; fineness. [obs.] a neat courtier, of a most elegant thread. jonson.
7. A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted.
8. A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark; also, a line of gold or silver.
9. The prominent part of the spiral of a screw or nut; the rib.
10. See Screw, n., 1.
11. Fig.: Something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s the thread of life, or of a discourse.
12. Fig.: Composition; quality; fineness.
13. To pass a thread through the eye of; as, to thread a needle.
14. To pass or pierce through as a narrow way; also, to effect or make, as one's way, through or between obstacles; to thrid.
15. To form a thread, or spiral rib, on or in; as, to thread a screw or nut. a fine cord of twisted fibers used in sewing and weaving pass through or into; "thread tape"; "thread film" remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string; "She had her eyebrows threaded" pass a thread through; "thread a needle".
16. 1. Thread or a thread is a long very thin piece of a material such as cotton, nylon, or silk, especially one that is used in sewing. a tiny Nepalese hat embroidered with golden threads.
17. The thread of an argument, a story, or a situation is an aspect of it that connects all the different parts together. The thread running through many of these proposals was the theme of individual power and opportunity.
18. A thread of something such as liquid, light, or colour is a long thin line or piece of it. A thin, glistening thread of moisture ran along the rough concrete sill.
19. The thread on a screw, or on something such as a lid or a pipe, is the raised spiral line of metal or plastic around it which allows it to be fixed in place by twisting. The screw threads will be able to get a good grip.
20. If you thread your way through a group of people or things, or thread through it, you move through it carefully or slowly, changing direction frequently as you move. Slowly she threaded her way back through the moving mass of bodies We threaded through a network of back streets.
21. If you thread a long thin object through something, you pass it through one or more holes or narrow spaces. threading the laces through the eyelets of his shoes Instruments developed at the hospital allow doctors to thread microscopic telescopes into the digestive tract.
22. If you thread small objects such as beads onto a string or thread, you join them together by pushing the string through them. Wipe the mushrooms clean and thread them on a string.
23. When you thread a needle, you put a piece of thread through the hole in the top of the needle in order to sew with it. I sit down, thread a needle, snip off an old button.
24. If you say that something is hanging by a thread, you mean that it is in a very uncertain state and is unlikely to survive or succeed. The fragile peace was hanging by a thread as thousands of hardliners took to the streets.
25. If you pick up the threads of an activity, you start it again after an interruption. If you pick up the threads of your life, you become more active again after a period of failure or bad luck. Many women have been able to pick up the threads of their former career. Tightly twisted yarn consisting of several strands that has a circular cross-section and is used in commercial and home sewing machines and for hand sewing. Thread is usually wound on spools, with thread size (degree of fineness) indicated on the spool end. Cotton thread can be used with fabrics made from yarn of plant origin, such as cotton and linen, and with rayon (made from cellulose, a plant substance). Silk thread is suitable for silks and wools, both of animal origin. Nylon and polyester threads are appropriate for synthetics and for knits with a high degree of stretch.