thread en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- [ˈθɹʷɛd]
- (US) audio
- /ˈθɹɛd/
Etymology
From Middle English thred, þred, threed, from Old English þrǣd, from Proto-Germanic *þrēduz, from Proto-Indo-European *treh₁-tu-s, from *terh₁- (“rub, twist”). Cognates Cognate with Yola dreade (“thread”), Saterland Frisian Träid (“thread, wire”), Cimbrian draat (“string, thread”), Dutch draad (“thread, wire”), German Draht (“thread, wire”), Luxembourgish Drot (“wire”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish tråd (“thread, wire”), Faroese tráður (“thread”), Icelandic þráður (“thread”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian dredh (“twist, turn”). More at throw.
Meanings
-
A cord formed by spinning or twisting together textile fibers or filaments into one or more continuous strands, typically used in needlework.
Woolen threads were an occult means, according to the Roman poet Horace, of depriving a person of virility.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 234:
- A piece of yarn, especially said of warps and wefts in a woven fabric.
-
Any of various natural (as spiderweb, etc.) or manufactured filaments (as glass, plastic, metal, etc.).
the threads of a spiderweb
He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.
1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./1/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
-
A slender stream of water.
a thread of water
- The line midway between the banks of a stream.
- A screw thread.
- The continuing course of life; the thread of life.
-
An ordered course, that which connects the successive points in a discourse. ▸ A line of reasoning, sequence of ideas, or train of thought.
‘Let him go on. Do not interrupt him. He cannot go back, and maybe could not proceed at all if once he lost the thread of his thought.’
1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Chapter 21:I was pondering these things, when an incident, and a somewhat unexpected one, broke the thread of my musings.
1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Chapter XVIII:I’ve lost the thread of what you’re saying.
-
An ordered course, that which connects the successive points in a discourse. ▸ A continuing theme that modifies the whole discourse.
All of these essays have a common thread.
- A unit of execution, lighter in weight than a process, usually sharing memory and other resources with other threads executing concurrently.
- (Internet) A series of posts or messages, consisting of an initial post and responses to it, generally relating to the same subject, on a newsgroup, Internet forum, or social media platform.
- A sequence of connections.
-
A precarious condition; something that which offers no real or otherwise perceived security.
a life hanging by a thread
-
(figuratively, obsolete) The degree of fineness; quality; nature.
A neat courtier, / Of a most elegant thread.
1632 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “The Magnetick Lady: Or, Humors Reconcil’d. A Comedy […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio), London: […] Richard Meighen, published 1640, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| threads | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| threed | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| thred | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| thrid | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
thread mode · threadless · thready · thread lace · thrill · prethread · gold thread · threadly · threadjacking · hang by a thread · golden thread · threadful · threadfish · unthread · threadmill · microthread · thread bug · threadfin · misthread · downthread · threadish · subthread · threadtail · protothread · threadbare · threader · pick up the threads · thread snake · hang on by a thread · bean thread noodle · pick up the threads of · threadjack · sister's thread · threadmaking · green thread · needle-and-thread grass · thread-locking fluid · packthread · thread count · threadmaker · thread-paper · permathread · megathread · thread of life · cross-thread · threadwork · multithread · nanothread · threadjacker · thread pool · threadworm · Pagenstecher thread · threadlet · goldthread · thread-legged bug · threadlocker · thread of thought · upthread · brahminical thread · thread necromancy · threadsafe · thread needle · thread-safe · Abalakov thread · Threadgold · nun's thread · threaden · interthread · threadlock · life thread · bean thread · lifethread · threadlike · hyperthreaded · lose the thread
Hyponyms
quadruple thread · screw thread
Synonyms
Translations (348)
es hilaracha (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sk vlákno ((Internet) a series of messages) · nl onderwerp (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ca tema ((Internet) a series of messages) · lv diegs (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh ни̑т (long, thin and flexible form of material) · rup hir (long, thin and flexible form of material) · inh тай (long, thin and flexible form of material) · haw hilo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cs vlákno ((Internet) a series of messages) · bg ни́шка ((computing) a unit of execution) · es tema ((Internet) a series of messages) · fr fil (a sequence of connection) · et lõng (long, thin and flexible form of material) · zh 主題 /主题 ((Internet) a series of messages) · ckb دەزوو (long, thin and flexible form of material) · tg ришта (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mt ħajt (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh ни̑т (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · is þráður (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi säie (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sl nit (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ca fil roig (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ru связь (a sequence of connection) · nl draad ((Internet) a series of messages) · de Diskussionsfaden ((Internet) a series of messages) · sh ни̑т ((computing) a unit of execution) · he שִׁרְשׁוּר ((Internet) a series of messages) · sa अंशु (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ar خَيْط (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ar خَيْط ((computing) a unit of execution) · gl fío (long, thin and flexible form of material) · haw lopi (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ty tuaina (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Zwirn (long, thin and flexible form of material) · az sap (long, thin and flexible form of material) · dsb niś (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ja スレ ((Internet) a series of messages) · de Garn (long, thin and flexible form of material) · he חוּט ((computing) a unit of execution) · my အပ်ချည် (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru те́ма ((Internet) a series of messages) · xug 糸 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ms urutan (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ms benang (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi तन्तु (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nl onderwerp ((Internet) a series of messages) · fr exétron ((computing) a unit of execution) · mai डोर (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Fluß (a sequence of connection) · bg коне́ц (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fo tráður (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru пото́к ((computing) a unit of execution) · te దారము (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fr fil (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ca fil conductor (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · hu szál ((Internet) a series of messages) · th เชือก (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nl rode draad (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · wyi birrip (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt linha de discussão ((Internet) a series of messages) · my အမျှင် (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es proceso ligero ((computing) a unit of execution) · ga snáithe (a sequence of connection) · grc μίτος (long, thin and flexible form of material) · th ด้าย (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Thema (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ca fil ((Internet) a series of messages) · ga snáithe (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cv ҫип (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Gedankenstrom (a sequence of connection) · mai ताग (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Thread ((computing) a unit of execution) · ota ایپلك (long, thin and flexible form of material) · jra mrai (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi viestiketju ((Internet) a series of messages) · kw linen (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ja 糸 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · to filo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · se árpu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru нить (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mi taura (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi teema (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ru тред ((computing) a unit of execution) · fi rihma (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi ketju ((Internet) a series of messages) · zh 線程 /线程 ((computing) a unit of execution) · sq fill (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh nȋt ((computing) a unit of execution) · bg те́ма ((Internet) a series of messages) · km តង្ករ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Nähgarn (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fur fîl (long, thin and flexible form of material) · xal эрәсн (long, thin and flexible form of material) · kmr dezî (long, thin and flexible form of material) · km អំបោះ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sl nit (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cy edau (long, thin and flexible form of material) · tr iplik (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt fio da meada (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · hu fonál (a sequence of connection) · fa رِشْتِه (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ce тай (long, thin and flexible form of material) · udm нюжа (long, thin and flexible form of material) · gd stìom (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sip སྐུད་མི (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ast filu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt barbante (long, thin and flexible form of material) · th กระทู้ ((Internet) a series of messages) · ms aliran (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · mk нишка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bn সূত্র (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fa نَخ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · kk жіп (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mi miro (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es hilo ((Internet) a series of messages) · hu fonál (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · sv tråd (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · sk niť (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sq nus (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ilo sinulid (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bh 𑂞𑂰𑂏𑂰 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ko 실 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · uz ip (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mag 𑂞𑂰𑂏𑂰 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · it filo conduttore (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · fr fil ((Internet) a series of messages) · th ใย (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi तागा (long, thin and flexible form of material) · it forum ((Internet) a series of messages) · bo སྐུད་པ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fr fil (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru диску́ссия ((Internet) a series of messages) · el νήμα ((Internet) a series of messages) · el κλωστή (long, thin and flexible form of material) · my ချည် (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh nȋt (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi ताँत (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hu téma ((Internet) a series of messages) · sh drȅtva ((computing) a unit of execution) · evn томко (long, thin and flexible form of material) · oc fil (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nl topic ((Internet) a series of messages) · haw awe (long, thin and flexible form of material) · is þráður ((Internet) a series of messages) · sah сап (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sv tema (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · es bouclé (buclé) (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fr fil d'exécution ((computing) a unit of execution) · hi सूत ((Internet) a series of messages) · myv суре (long, thin and flexible form of material) · zh 線 /线 ((computing) a unit of execution) · mhr шӱртӧ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · qu q'aytu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · is spjallþráður ((Internet) a series of messages) · la fīlum (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ms bebenang ((computing) a unit of execution) · ru те́ма (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · zh 論題 /论题 ((Internet) a series of messages) · pl wątek ((computing) a unit of execution) · ps نخ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt thread ((computing) a unit of execution) · sh nȋt (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · gl fiaño (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hy թել (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sa तन्तु (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ti ፈትሊ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pag tinebey (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Thread ((Internet) a series of messages) · tk ýüp (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Strang (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sv tråd ((computing) a unit of execution) · pl wątek (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ru ни́тка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es tema (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · sh дре̏тва ((computing) a unit of execution) · sw uzi (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ja スレッド ((computing) a unit of execution) · ml നൂല് (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ka ძაფი (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi तंत (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi lanka (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · es madeja (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh ни̑т ((Internet) a series of messages) · yue 線 /线 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt fio (long, thin and flexible form of material) · vro niit' (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ms jaluran ((Internet) a series of messages) · pl nitka (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es argumento (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · hu téma (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · alt јип (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es cadena ((Internet) a series of messages) · ru тред ((Internet) a series of messages) · fi säie (a sequence of connection) · fi säie ((computing) a unit of execution) · ln busi (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ga snáithe ((Internet) a series of messages) · hu motívum (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · lo ດ້າຍ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bcl tursido (long, thin and flexible form of material) · he תת־תהליך ((computing) a unit of execution) · it refe (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru нить (a sequence of connection) · sk vlákno (long, thin and flexible form of material) · zh 線 /线 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hsb nić (long, thin and flexible form of material) · vi chỉ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ks پَن (long, thin and flexible form of material) · he חוּט (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bg ни́шка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sv tråd (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ja ライトウェイトプロセス ((computing) a unit of execution) · ru то́пик ((Internet) a series of messages) · el θέμα (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · fr processus léger ((computing) a unit of execution) · cs vlákno (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cy edefyn (long, thin and flexible form of material) · it filo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ga snáithe (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · pt tópico (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · mi tui (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ga snáth (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pt linha (long, thin and flexible form of material) · be ні́тка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ms bebenang ((Internet) a series of messages) · pag daramey (long, thin and flexible form of material) · war inulang (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ar مَوْضُوع ((Internet) a series of messages) · xsv shūta (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi lanka (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cs vlákno ((computing) a unit of execution) · ro ață (long, thin and flexible form of material) · chl 'iilu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · si නූල් (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ca fil (long, thin and flexible form of material) · az ip (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pl wątek ((Internet) a series of messages) · bh धागा (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ckb داو (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sm filo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fr enfilade ((Internet) a series of messages) · gl liña (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es tópico ((Internet) a series of messages) · hi सूत (long, thin and flexible form of material) · kmr dav (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pam sinulad (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bxd kʰjaŋ⁵⁵ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · yi פֿאָדעם (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ar خيط (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ccc kishemolo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ks سٕتھٕر (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ar خيط (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi सूत्र (long, thin and flexible form of material) · da tråd (long, thin and flexible form of material) · uk ни́тка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sv tråd ((Internet) a series of messages) · ltg dīgs (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pl nić (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi डोर (long, thin and flexible form of material) · af draad (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru мысль (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ug يىپ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · eve томкача (long, thin and flexible form of material) · bg те́ма (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · bg ни́шка (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · fi kuitu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi juoni (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · hi धागा (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sms ärpp (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sh nȋt ((Internet) a series of messages) · fi ketju (a sequence of connection) · pt tópico ((Internet) a series of messages) · dtp banang (long, thin and flexible form of material) · vi thớt ((Internet) a series of messages) · zh 話題 /话题 ((Internet) a series of messages) · ro tort (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pl temat ((Internet) a series of messages) · el νήμα (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ur رِشْتَہ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Strom (a sequence of connection) · ro fir (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Zusammenhang (a sequence of connection) · de Faden (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · es buclé (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es filástica (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nb tråd (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hi डोरी (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ms rajutan ((Internet) a series of messages) · ja スレッド ((Internet) a series of messages) · ba еп (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nl draad (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fr fil de discussion ((Internet) a series of messages) · haw maʻawe (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ur دھاگا (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es hilo (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru ве́тка ((Internet) a series of messages) · izh rihma (long, thin and flexible form of material) · lt siūlas (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sq pe (long, thin and flexible form of material) · et niit (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Faden (long, thin and flexible form of material) · it filo (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · nl thread ((computing) a unit of execution) · es subproceso ((computing) a unit of execution) · oc fil (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · bh 𑂙𑂷𑂩𑂰 (long, thin and flexible form of material) · tg нах (long, thin and flexible form of material) · grc νῆμα (long, thin and flexible form of material) · sk nitka (long, thin and flexible form of material) · tl sinulid (long, thin and flexible form of material) · hu vezérfonal (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · ky жип (long, thin and flexible form of material) · smn árppu (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ty uaua (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de roter Faden (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · kw neujen (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi johtoajatus (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · hu cérna (long, thin and flexible form of material) · zh 分身 ((computing) a unit of execution) · as সূতা (long, thin and flexible form of material) · eo fadeno (long, thin and flexible form of material) · id benang (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mk конец (long, thin and flexible form of material) · fi lanka ((Internet) a series of messages) · hu összefüggés (a sequence of connection) · lo ດ້າຽ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ru нить (a theme or idea — see also common thread) · dlm fil (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ang þrǣd (long, thin and flexible form of material) · km ចេស (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Diskussionsstrang ((Internet) a series of messages) · liv lānga (long, thin and flexible form of material) · nl garen (long, thin and flexible form of material) · he תהליכון ((computing) a unit of execution) · ur نَخ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · rsk нїтка (long, thin and flexible form of material) · ii ꑟ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mnc ᡨᠣᠩᡤᠣ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · de Gedankenfluss (a sequence of connection) · txb ñare (long, thin and flexible form of material) · pdt Drot (long, thin and flexible form of material) · tt җеп (long, thin and flexible form of material) · es hilazón (a sequence of connection) · lo ເຊືອກ (long, thin and flexible form of material) · cs nit (long, thin and flexible form of material) · kw neusen (long, thin and flexible form of material) · mn утас (long, thin and flexible form of material)