thread

thread [thred]

n.

[ME threde < OE thræd (akin to Ger draht) < base of thrawan, to twist: see THROW]

1.

a) a light, fine, stringlike length of material made up of two or more fibers or strands of spun cotton, flax, silk, etc. twisted together and used in sewing

b) a similar fine length of synthetic material, as nylon or plastic, or of glass or metal

c) the fine, stringy filament extruded by a spider, silkworm, etc.

d) any of the yarns of which a fabric is woven

e) a fine, stringy length of syrup or other viscous material

2. any thin line, stratum, vein, stream, ray, etc.

3. an element suggestive of a thread in being continuous or sequential [the thread of a story]

4. the helical ridge of a screw, bolt, nut, etc.

☆ 5. [pl.] Slang a suit, or clothes generally

vt.

1.

a) to put a thread through the eye of (a needle, etc.)

b) to arrange thread for use on (a sewing machine)

2. to string (beads, etc.) on or as if on a thread

3. to fashion a THREAD (sense 4) on or in (a screw, pipe, etc.)

4. to interweave with or as if with threads [a red tapestry threaded with gold]

5.

a) to pass through by twisting, turning, or weaving in and out [to thread the streets]

b) to make (one's way) in this fashion

6. to pass or feed (tape, film, etc.) into or through (a recorder, projector, etc.)

vi.

1. to go along or proceed in a winding way

☆ 2. to form a thread when dropped from a spoon: said of boiling syrup that has reached a certain consistency

threader

n.

threadlike

adj.