Definition

1. Noun:

   • A fine cord of twisted fibers: A long, thin strand of material, such as cotton, silk, wool, or nylon, used for sewing or weaving.
   • A long, thin line or element resembling such a cord: Any object or formation that is long, thin, and continuous, like a line, stream, or trail.
   • The raised helical ridge on a screw or bolt: The spiral ridge that allows a screw to be turned and fastened into a material.
   • The connections linking parts of a story or argument: The sequence of ideas or the logical continuity that connects the elements of a narrative, discussion, or train of thought.

2. Verb:

   • To pass a thread through: To put thread through the eye of a needle.
   • To string together on a thread: To arrange objects, such as beads, by passing a thread or string through them.
   • To move in a winding or twisting course: To follow or cause to follow a sinuous, meandering, or intricate path.
   • To remove facial hair using twisted thread: A method of hair removal where a fine, twisted cotton thread is used to pull out hairs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She used a strong thread to sew the button back on.
  • A thin thread of smoke rose from the chimney.
  • The screw has a damaged thread, so it won't tighten properly.
  • I lost the thread of the conversation when they started using technical terms.

• Verb:

  • Can you thread this needle for me? My eyes aren't as good as they used to be.
  • The children threaded colorful beads to make necklaces.
  • The river threads its way through the valley.
  • She goes to the salon to have her eyebrows threaded.

Advanced Usage

• "To pick up/take up the thread(s)": To resume an activity, narrative, or relationship after an interruption.

  • After the coffee break, the speaker picked up the threads of his lecture.

• "To hang by a thread": To be in a very precarious or dangerous situation; to be at great risk.

  • After the accident, his life hung by a thread.

• "The thread of life": A metaphorical expression for life itself or its duration, often depicted in mythology as spun and cut by the Fates.

  • In Greek myth, the Moirai controlled the thread of life for every mortal.

Variants and Related Words

• Threadlike (adjective): Resembling a thread; long, thin, and fibrous.

  • The plant has threadlike roots.

• Threadbare (adjective): (Of fabric) thin and worn with age; (of an idea, excuse, etc.) overused and no longer effective.

  • He wore a threadbare coat. / His excuses were threadbare.

• Threader (noun): A device used to help put thread through a needle.

Synonyms

• Noun: Filament, strand, fiber, string, line, yarn, train (of thought).
• Verb: String, weave, wind, meander, snake.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Thread through: To move carefully through a crowded or complex place.
  • We had to thread our way through the busy market stalls.

Related Idioms

• Lose the thread: To lose one's train of thought or the logical sequence of an argument or story.

  • I'm sorry, I've lost the thread. What were we just talking about?

• A common thread: A shared characteristic or theme that connects different things.

  • A common thread in all her novels is the theme of redemption.

Noun

1. the raised helical rib going around a screw
2. the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together
   • I couldn't follow his train of thought
   • he lost the thread of his argument
3. any long object resembling a thin line
   • a mere ribbon of land
   • the lighted ribbon of traffic
   • from the air the road was a grey thread
   • a thread of smoke climbed upward
4. a fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving

Verb

1. thread on or as if on a string
   • string pearls on a string
   • the child drew glass beads on a string
   • thread dried cranberries
2. pass through or into
   • thread tape
   • thread film
3. remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string
   • She had her eyebrows threaded
4. pass a thread through
   • thread a needle
5. to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
   • the river winds through the hills
   • the path meanders through the vineyards
   • sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body