26984 words

thread

16 definitions • 26 examples
1
(a length of) a very thin fibre:

Examples:

needle and thread Have you got a needle and thread I could borrow?
2
a long, thin line of something such as light or smoke:

Examples:

thread of A thin thread of light made its way through the curtains.
3
The thread of a book, discussion, speech, etc. is its story or the way that it develops, one part connecting with another:

Examples:

One of the main threads of the film is the development of the relationship between the boy and his uncle.
lose the thread The sound distracted me and I lost the thread of (= forgot) what I was saying.
4
a connected group of pieces of writing on the internet, where people are talking about a particular subject:

Examples:

I was so glad to find this thread, and to know that lots of people have the same problem as me!
5
a continuous raised line, such as the one that goes around the outside of a screw or bolt or the inside of a hole
6

Examples:

I love walking down the street and seeing someone in my threads.
7
to put something long and thin such as string or thread through a narrow hole or into a small space:

Examples:

thread a needle Could you thread this needle for me, please?
The sari had gold strands threaded through the material.
8
to put things such as beads (= small, round objects with a hole through the middle) onto a string or thread:

Examples:

She sat threading beads, which fell with a faint, decisive click.
The olives are threaded onto wooden cocktail sticks for garnish.
9
to move forwards, often changing direction in order to avoid people or things:

Examples:

The little car threaded dangerously through the traffic.
She threaded her way through the crowded market place.
10
to kick or throw a ball to another player, especially between players from the other team:

Examples:

Messi threaded a pass through to Suarez.
He used his strong left arm, threading the ball between helpless defenders.
11
to remove hair from someone's face using a long piece of thread:

Examples:

Have you ever had your eyebrows threaded?
12
to arrange an email, text message, or internet post or a series of these so that connected messages dealing with the same subject follow each other in a group:

Examples:

We are launching some changes to how the system threads messages.
If we can find any similar conversations, we'll thread the incoming message to the existing conversation.
13
a very thin twisted string of esp. cotton or silk, used mostly for sewing:

Examples:

[ U ] It takes practice to use a needle and thread well.
[ C ] There’s a loose thread on your dress.
14
A thread is also something continuous that connects different ideas or thoughts together:

Examples:

[ C ] A common thread runs through their various experiences.
[ U ] A ringing phone interrupted the thread of her story.
15
a continuous cut that twists around the outside of a screw or around an opening, as on a pipe:

Examples:

The threads are worn, and I can’t tighten the screw.
16
to put thread through the hole in a needle, or to put something narrow through a small opening:

Examples:

to thread a needle
He threaded a thin strip of tape through the machine.
fig. She threaded her way through the crowd (= moved along a narrow path to go around people in her way).

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