I. ˈthred noun
Etymology: Middle English thred, from Old English thrǣd; akin to Old High German drāt wire, Old English thrāwan to cause to twist or turn — more at throw
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a filament, a group of filaments twisted together, or a filamentous length formed by spinning and twisting short textile fibers into a continuous strand
b. : a piece of thread
2.
a. : any of various natural filaments
the thread s of a spiderweb
b. : a slender stream (as of water)
c. : a projecting helical rib (as in a fitting or on a pipe) by which parts can be screwed together : screw thread
3. : something continuous or drawn out: as
a. : a line of reasoning or train of thought that connects the parts in a sequence (as of ideas or events)
lost the thread of the story
b. : a continuing element
a thread of melancholy marked all his writing
c. : a series of newsgroup messages following a single topic
4. : a tenuous or feeble support
hung on by a thread
5. plural : clothing
• thread·less -ləs adjective
• thread·like -ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to pass a thread through the eye of (a needle)
b. : to arrange a thread, yarn, or lead-in piece in working position for use in (a machine)
2.
a.
(1) : to pass something through in the manner of a thread
thread a pipe with wire
(2) : to pass (as a tape, line, or film) into or through something
thread ed a fresh roll of film into the camera
b. : to make one's way through or between
thread ing narrow alleys
also : to make one's way usually cautiously through a hazardous situation
3. : to put together on or as if on a thread : string
thread beads
4. : to interweave with or as if with threads : intersperse
dark hair thread ed with silver
5. : to form a screw thread on or in
intransitive verb
1. : weave 2
the car thread ed through traffic
2. : to form a thread
• thread·er noun