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¹thread

noun \ˈthred\

: a long, thin piece of cotton, silk, etc., used for sewing

: a long, thin line of something

: the raised line that winds around a screw

Full Definition of THREAD

a : a filament, a group of filaments twisted together, or a filamentous length formed by spinning and twisting short textile fibers into a continuous strand

b : a piece of thread

a : any of various natural filaments <the threads of a spiderweb>

b : a slender stream (as of water)

c : a projecting helical rib (as in a fitting or on a pipe) by which parts can be screwed together : screw thread

: something continuous or drawn out: as

a : a line of reasoning or train of thought that connects the parts in a sequence (as of ideas or events) <lost the thread of the story>

b : a continuing element <a thread of melancholy marked all his writing>

c : a series of newsgroup messages following a single topic

: a tenuous or feeble support <hung on by a thread>

plural : clothing

— thread·less \-ləs\ adjective

— thread·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See thread defined for English-language learners

See thread defined for kids

Origin of THREAD

Middle English thred, from Old English thrǣd; akin to Old High German drāt wire, Old English thrāwan to cause to twist or turn — more at throw

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to THREAD

Synonyms: bristle, fiber, filament, hair

Rhymes with THREAD

bed, bread, dead, dread, ed, fed, head, lead, med, ped, read, red, Red, redd, said, shed, shred, sled, spread, stead, ted, tread, wed, zed

²thread

verb

: to put a thread, string, rope, etc., through a hole in something

: to put (film or tape) into a movie camera, tape recorder, etc., so that it is ready to be used

: to move forward by turning and going through narrow spaces

Full Definition of THREAD

transitive verb

a : to pass a thread through the eye of (a needle)

b : to arrange a thread, yarn, or lead-in piece in working position for use in (a machine)

a (1) : to pass something through in the manner of a thread <thread a pipe with wire> (2) : to pass (as a tape, line, or film) into or through something <threaded a fresh roll of film into the camera>

b : to make one's way through or between <threading narrow alleys>; also : to make one's way usually cautiously through a hazardous situation

: to put together on or as if on a thread : string <thread beads>

: to interweave with or as if with threads : intersperse <dark hair threaded with silver>

: to form a screw thread on or in

intransitive verb

: weave 2 <the car threaded through traffic>

: to form a thread

— thread·er noun

See thread defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of THREAD

14th century

Related to THREAD

Synonyms: interlace, intersperse, interweave, lace, salt, weave, wreathe

THREAD[1] Defined for Kids

¹thread

noun \ˈthred\

Definition of THREAD for Kids

: a thin fine cord formed by spinning and twisting short fibers into a continuous strand

: a thin fine line or strand of something <a thread of light>

: the ridge or groove that winds around a screw

: a train of thought that connects the parts of something (as an argument or story)

— thread·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

²thread

verb

thread·edthread·ing

Definition of THREAD for Kids

: to put a thread in working position (as in a needle)

: to pass something through another thing <Thread the film through the camera.>

: to make a way through or between <He rushes on and on … threading his way with perfect skill between tree-trunks … — C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe>

: to put together on a thread : string