Dictionary

threshold en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈθɹɛʃˌhəʊld/ (UK)
• /ˈθɹɛʃəʊld/ (UK)
• [ˈθɹɛʃˌhɒʊɫd] (UK) goat split
• /ˈθɹɛ.ʃoʊld/ (US)
• /ˈθɹɛʃ.hoʊld/ (US, nonstandard)

Etymology

From Middle English threschwolde, threscholde, from Old English þresċold, þerxold, þrexwold (“doorsill, entryway”), from Proto-Germanic *þreskudlaz, *þreskūþlijaz, *þreskwaþluz, from Proto-Germanic *þreskaną, *þreskwaną (“to thresh, (originally) to tread”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to rub, turn”). Cognate with Low German Drüssel (“threshold”), dialectal German Drischaufel, Drissufle, Trüschübel (“threshold”), Danish tærskel (“threshold”), Norwegian Bokmål terskel (“threshold”), Norwegian Nynorsk treskald (“threshold”), Swedish tröskel (“threshold”), dialectal Swedish träskvald (“threshold”), Icelandic þröskuldur (“threshold”). Pronunciations such as “thresh-hold” are un-etymological and result from analogy with hold.

Meanings

1. The lowermost part of a doorway that one crosses to enter; a sill.
   • Near-synonym: doorstep
2. (broadly) An entrance; the door or gate of a house.
   • Shy. You that did voide your rume vpon my beard, / And foote me as you ſpurne a ſtranger curre / Ouer your threſhold, […] c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 166:
3. (broadly) Any end or boundary.
4. (figuratively) The outset of something; the point of entry, or the beginning of an action.
   • on the threshold of maturity
   • I arrived at last, did obeisance to my uncle, and told him everything. He thought it over and said: ' […] At the threshold of death, how dare I give you permission to go to England, to cross the seas? But I will not stand in your way. It is your mother's permission which really matters. If she permit you, then godspeed! Tell her I will not interfere. You will go with my blessings.' 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter xi
   • The first half of this century has been referred to as the golden age of medicine. To me it seems more probable that we are on the threshold of a much greater age. 1951 March, John W. Cline, “The Future of Medicine”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 3, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 165:
5. The start of the landing area of a runway.
6. The quantitative point at which an action is triggered, especially a lower limit.
7. The wage or salary at which income tax becomes due.
8. The point where one is mentally or physically vulnerable in response to a provocation or to other nuisances.

Forms

Antonyms

lintel (antonym(s) of “bottom-most part of a doorway”)

Coordinates

windowsill

Deriveds

perithreshold (multiword expressions) · election threshold (multiword expressions) · stereothreshold (multiword expressions) · threshold potential (multiword expressions) · photothreshold (multiword expressions) · thresholdlike · subthreshold · threshold of originality (multiword expressions) · threshold effect (multiword expressions) · thresholding · infrathreshold · bithreshold (multiword expressions) · pain threshold (multiword expressions) · underthreshold (multiword expressions) · epidemic threshold (multiword expressions) · suprathreshold · thresholded · threshold braking (multiword expressions) · infrathreshold (multiword expressions) · threshold worker (multiword expressions) · bithreshold · superthreshold (multiword expressions) · underthreshold · Micawber threshold (multiword expressions) · photothreshold · thresholded (multiword expressions) · thresholder · perithreshold · absolute threshold (multiword expressions) · Darwinian threshold (multiword expressions) · suprathreshold (multiword expressions) · thresholder (multiword expressions) · subthreshold (multiword expressions) · displaced threshold (multiword expressions) · thresholdless · stereothreshold · superthreshold · cycle threshold (multiword expressions)

Synonyms

doorstep · doorway · portal · doorsill

Translations (228)

es tranco (bottom-most part of a doorway) · vi ngưỡng (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pt umbral (point at which an action is triggered) · gd stairsneach (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sv tröskel (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sv tröskelvärde (point at which an action is triggered) · nb terskelverdi (point at which an action is triggered) · ga tairseach (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cv пусаха (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tk bosaga (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tl gilid (point at which an action is triggered) · pt patamares (entrance) · id ambang (bottom-most part of a doorway) · hu küszöbérték (point at which an action is triggered) · tg остона (bottom-most part of a doorway) · te గడప (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ps درګا (bottom-most part of a doorway) · vo domasoliad (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fi alaraja (income at which income tax becomes due) · hu küszöb (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Schwelle (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pox роrg (bottom-most part of a doorway) · nrf pas dé l'us (bottom-most part of a doorway) · hsb рrоh (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ca límit (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · hy շեմ (point at which an action is triggered) · lv slieksnis (bottom-most part of a doorway) · gl limiar (entrance) · cmn 閾值 /阈值 (point at which an action is triggered) · nog босага (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ja 敷居 (entrance) · fi kynnys (start of the landing area) · ro prag (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tyv бозага (bottom-most part of a doorway) · be паро́г (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pl próg (point at which an action is triggered) · nl drempelwaarde (point at which an action is triggered) · oc lindal (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sq shkam (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he מִפְתָּן (bottom-most part of a doorway) · wa soû (bottom-most part of a doorway) · es umbral (point at which an action is triggered) · pt limiar (bottom-most part of a doorway) · dsb prog (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sq prag (bottom-most part of a doorway) · es limen (bottom-most part of a doorway) · es fallanca (bottom-most part of a doorway) · kk босаға (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Türschwelle (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Anfang (outset of an action or project) · vls zulle (bottom-most part of a doorway) · el κατώφλι (point at which an action is triggered) · mi paewae (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fr seuil (outset of an action or project) · sh prȁg (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fi kynnys (entrance) · es tranquillo (bottom-most part of a doorway) · lt slenkstis (bottom-most part of a doorway) · it uscio (entrance) · th ธรณีประตู (bottom-most part of a doorway) · az kandar (bottom-most part of a doorway) · oc solar (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fi kynnys (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · myv кенкшикелькс (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ota اشیك (bottom-most part of a doorway) · hi डेवढ़ी (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ko 역치 (point at which an action is triggered) · pt limiar (point at which an action is triggered) · is þröskuldur (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he סַף (entrance) · el ουδός (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · ca llindar (point at which an action is triggered) · sq shqem (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cjs позаа (bottom-most part of a doorway) · nrf ché d'la porte (bottom-most part of a doorway) · nb tålegrense (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · my အပေါက်ဝ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · et künnis (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ru нача́ло (outset of an action or project) · fr seuil (income at which income tax becomes due) · de Schwelle (entrance) · ar بِدَايَة (outset of an action or project) · pt umbral (bottom-most part of a doorway) · kmr derazînk (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he סַף (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · orv порогъ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pt soleira (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he מַדְרֵגָה (income at which income tax becomes due) · vi ngưỡng cửa (bottom-most part of a doorway) · es umbral (entrance) · el κατώφλι (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cy rhiniog (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fr seuil (point at which an action is triggered) · ca punt de partida (outset of an action or project) · cv алӑк янаххи (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ug بوسۇغا (bottom-most part of a doorway) · scn antu (bottom-most part of a doorway) · mr उंबरठा (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ca llindar de tolerància (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · ps آستانه (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ur دَرْگاہ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · uz boʻsagʻa (bottom-most part of a doorway) · os къӕсӕр (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ja 閾値 (point at which an action is triggered) · ja 敷居 (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da tærskel (point at which an action is triggered) · kmr şîpane (bottom-most part of a doorway) · it entrata (entrance) · br treuzoù (bottom-most part of a doorway) · gl limiar (point at which an action is triggered) · tt бусага (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Beginn (outset of an action or project) · it soglia (bottom-most part of a doorway) · bg нача́ло (outset of an action or project) · nb fribeløp (income at which income tax becomes due) · fi kynnysarvo (point at which an action is triggered) · cs práh (bottom-most part of a doorway) · kk табалдырық (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fr seuil de tolérance (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · bg праг (income at which income tax becomes due) · he סַף (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pt patamar (entrance) · mi paepae (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he סַף (point at which an action is triggered) · hy սեմ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · krc босагъа (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fi kynnys (bottom-most part of a doorway) · bg преддве́рие (entrance) · tg даргоҳ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · crh bosağa (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da tærskelværdi (point at which an action is triggered) · ru поро́г (point at which an action is triggered) · pt cabeceira (start of the landing area) · mk праг (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sk prah (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Türschwelle (entrance) · scn sogghia (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tyv казапча (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he מִפְתָּן (entrance) · az astana (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ur ڈیوڑھی (bottom-most part of a doorway) · nl drempel (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da dørtærskel (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tl gilid (point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general) · pl próg (income at which income tax becomes due) · nb terskel (entrance) · oc pompidor (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fa-ira دَرْگاه (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pl przedsionek (entrance) · cmn 門限 /门限 (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fa-ira آسْتان (bottom-most part of a doorway) · eo sojlo (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ba тупһа (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Ausgangspunkt (outset of an action or project) · eo enirejo (entrance) · ko 문지방 (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cjs позаға (bottom-most part of a doorway) · bg праг (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sh пра̏г (bottom-most part of a doorway) · sl prag (bottom-most part of a doorway) · it soglia di casa (entrance) · lo ທໍຣະນີປະຕູ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ka ზღურბლი (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ca capçalera (start of the landing area) · pl próg (bottom-most part of a doorway) · grc βηλός (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ky босого (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ur آسْتانَہ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ar عَتَبَة (bottom-most part of a doorway) · uk порі́г (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fa-ira آسْتانِه (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ur ڈیوڑی (bottom-most part of a doorway) · la līmen (bottom-most part of a doorway) · hi दहलीज़ (point at which an action is triggered) · ko 문턱 (bottom-most part of a doorway) · tr eşik (point at which an action is triggered) · kum посагъа (bottom-most part of a doorway) · km ធរណីទ្វារ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fi aloituspiste (outset of an action or project) · bn গোবরাট (bottom-most part of a doorway) · alt бозого (bottom-most part of a doorway) · gl limiar (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da skattefri bundgrænse (income at which income tax becomes due) · el αφετηρία (outset of an action or project) · uz ostona (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ms ambang (bottom-most part of a doorway) · mn босго (bottom-most part of a doorway) · nb dørstokk (entrance) · my ဖိနပ်ချွတ် (bottom-most part of a doorway) · yi שוועל (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cu прагъ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · my တံခါးခုံ (bottom-most part of a doorway) · de Schwelle (point at which an action is triggered) · ca llindar (entrance) · nb frikortsgrense (income at which income tax becomes due) · cmn 門檻 /门槛 (bottom-most part of a doorway) · fr seuil (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ur دہلیز (point at which an action is triggered) · it soglia (point at which an action is triggered) · nb terskel (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da tærskel (entrance) · nb dørstokk (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ca llindar (bottom-most part of a doorway) · he סַף (income at which income tax becomes due) · el κατώφλι (entrance) · eo sojlo (entrance) · hy շեմք (bottom-most part of a doorway) · da tærskel (bottom-most part of a doorway) · eu atalase (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ru преддве́рие (outset of an action or project) · ru поро́г (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ru поро́г (income at which income tax becomes due) · sv fribelopp (income at which income tax becomes due) · ota اشیك (entrance) · ba буҫаға (bottom-most part of a doorway) · ltg slīksnis (bottom-most part of a doorway) · mk праг (entrance) · es umbral (bottom-most part of a doorway) · pl próg (entrance) · tr eşik (bottom-most part of a doorway) · oc sulhet (bottom-most part of a doorway) · vo soliad (bottom-most part of a doorway) · mi paepaepoto (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cy trothwy (point at which an action is triggered) · he רַף (point at which an action is triggered) · de Landeschwelle (start of the landing area) · tyv эргин (bottom-most part of a doorway) · cy trothwy (bottom-most part of a doorway)