thread

¹thread

noun \ˈthred\

Definition of THREAD

1

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

2

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

3

: 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

4

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

5

plural : clothing

— thread·less \-ləs\ adjective

— thread·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of THREAD

1. A thread was hanging from the hem of her coat.
2. <the unwary bug was snared in the sticky threads of the spider's web>

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

Related Words: microfiber; cord, rope, string, wire, yarn; fuzz, tuft

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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