transcription, транскрипция: [ θret(ə)n ]
( threatens, threatening, threatened)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If a person threatens to do something unpleasant to you, or if they threaten you, they say or imply that they will do something unpleasant to you, especially if you do not do what they want.
He said army officers had threatened to destroy the town...
He tied her up and threatened her with a six-inch knife...
If you threaten me or use any force, I shall inform the police.
VERB : V to-inf , V n with n , V n , also V that
2.
If something or someone threatens a person or thing, they are likely to harm that person or thing.
The newcomers directly threaten the livelihood of the established workers...
30 percent of reptiles, birds, and fish are currently threatened with extinction.
VERB : V n , be V-ed with n
3.
If something unpleasant threatens to happen, it seems likely to happen.
The fighting is threatening to turn into full-scale war...
VERB : V to-inf
4.
see also threatened , threatening