Definition

1. Noun:
   • A region marking a boundary: The point or line where one condition, state, or area ends and another begins.
   • The sill of a door: A horizontal piece of wood, stone, or metal that forms the bottom of a doorway and provides support when passing through.
   • An entrance or doorway: The space in a wall through which you enter or leave a room or building; the opening that a door closes.
   • The smallest detectable sensation: (In psychology or physiology) The minimum level of stimulus intensity needed for a sensation to be detected.
   • The starting point for a new state or experience: The beginning of a particular stage, period, or condition.

Usage Examples

• As a physical boundary or part of a door:
  • She paused at the threshold before entering the old house.
  • The wooden threshold was worn smooth by generations of footsteps.
• As an entrance or doorway:
  • Light spilled from the threshold into the dark hallway.
  • He stood in the threshold, blocking the entrance.
• As the beginning of a new state:
  • The invention of the telephone was on the threshold of a new era in communication.
  • She was on the threshold of a brilliant career.
• As a minimum detectable level:
  • The sound was just above the hearing threshold for most participants.

Advanced Usage

• "On the threshold of": At the point of beginning or entering something new.
  • The country stands on the threshold of major economic reform.
• "Pain threshold": The point at which a stimulus begins to be felt as pain.
  • Her high pain threshold allowed her to endure the procedure.
• "Threshold of consciousness": The minimum level of awareness.
  • The memory existed just below the threshold of consciousness.

Variants and Related Words

• Thresholding (n): (In data analysis or image processing) The process of converting a grayscale image into a binary image based on a set value.
  • The software uses thresholding to distinguish the object from the background.
• Threshold limit value (TLV) (n): (In occupational safety) The maximum concentration of a chemical a worker can be exposed to over a work shift.
• Subthreshold (adj): Below the minimum level required to produce a response or sensation.
  • The stimulus was subthreshold and went unnoticed.

Synonyms

• Doorstep: The step or ledge at the bottom of a doorway.
• Vestibule: A small entrance hall or passage between the outer door and the interior of a building.
• Brink: The extreme edge of something, often before a change.
• Onset: The beginning of something, especially something unpleasant.
• Liminal point: A transitional or initial stage of a process.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Cross the threshold: To enter a place or begin a new phase.
  • The moment she crossed the threshold, she felt at home.
• Below the threshold: Not meeting the minimum level required to be considered or detected.
  • The donation was below the threshold for a tax receipt.
• Threshold amount/level: A specific quantity that must be reached for something to happen or apply.
  • You must earn above the threshold amount to pay this tax.

Noun

1. a region marking a boundary
2. the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
3. the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
   • he stuck his head in the doorway
4. the smallest detectable sensation
5. the starting point for a new state or experience
   • on the threshold of manhood