/ θreʃ; NAmE / verb
1.
[ vn ] to separate grains of rice, wheat , etc. from the rest of the plant using a machine or, especially in the past, by hitting it with a special tool
2.
[ v , vn ] to make, or cause sth to make, uncontrolled movements
SYN thrash
► thresh·ing noun [ U ]:
a threshing machine
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English therscan , later threscan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dorsen and German dreschen . Compare with thrash .