[through] prep [ME thurh, thruh, through, fr. OE thurh; akin to OHG durh through, L trans across, beyond, Skt tarati he crosses over] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1)--used as a function word to indicate movement into at one side or point and out at another and esp. the opposite side of "drove a nail ~ the board" (2): by way of "left ~ the door" (3)--used as a function word to indicate passage from one end or boundary to another "a highway ~ the forest" "a road ~ the desert" (4): without stopping for: past "drove ~ a red light" b--used as a function word to indicate passage into and out of a treatment, handling, or process "the matter has already passed ~ her hands" 2--used as a function word to indicate means, agency, or intermediacy: as a: by means of: by the agency of b: because of "failed ~ ignorance" c: by common descent from or relationship with "related ~ their grandfather" 3 a: over the whole surface or extent of: throughout "homes scattered ~ the valley" b--used as a function word to indicate movement within a large expanse "flew ~ the air" c--used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditions "put him ~ hell" 4--used as a function word to indicate a period of time: as a: during the entire period of "all ~ her life" b: from the beginning to the end of "the tower stood ~ the earthquake" c: to and including "Monday ~ Friday"
5. a--used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustion "got ~ the book" "went ~ the money in a year" b--used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval esp. by an official body "got the bill ~ the legislature"
[2]through adv (bef. 12c) 1: from one end or side to the other
2. a: from beginning to end b: to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment "see it ~"
3: to the core: completely "soaked ~"
4: into the open: out "break ~" [3]through adj (1523) 1 a: extending from one surface to another "a ~ mortise" b: admitting free or continuous passage: direct "a ~ road"
2. a (1): going from point of origin to destination without change or reshipment "a ~ train" (2): of or relating to such movement "a ~ ticket" b: initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone "~ traffic" 3 a: arrived at completion or accomplishment "is ~ with the job" b: washed-up, finished