Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - through

~1 prep 1 entering something such as a door, passage, tube, or hole at one end or side and leaving it at the other  (They were suddenly plunged into darkness as the train went through the tunnel. | The ball went flying through the window. | As the water passes through the filter a lot of dirt is taken out.) 2 going into an area, group etc. and moving across it or within it  (He had to push his way through the crowd to get to her. | The new ring road stops all the traffic driving through the centre of town. | gliding noiselessly through the air) 3 if you see something through glass, a window etc, you are on one side of the glass etc and it is on the other  (I could see her through the window. | Through the mist she could just make out his silhouette.) 4 passing a place where you are supposed to stop  (The driver had gone straight through the traffic lights and hit an oncoming car. | Once through passport control your luggage will be searched.) 5 cutting, breaking or making a hole from one side of something to the other  (Not only did the drill pierce the wood but it went straight through the table underneath too! | The goat had eaten right through the rope.) 6 during and to the end of a period of time  (Sometimes I go to bed at 5 a.m. and sleep right through the day. | I wouldn't worry about Joe, he's just going through a difficult period.) 7 if you get through a difficult situation or experience you deal with it successfully  (I've no idea how I managed to get through my exams last year. | He has lots of friends which really helped him through the divorce.) 8 look through/search through/go through etc to do something from beginning to end and include all parts of it  (In the dress rehearsal he'll go through the play one final time. | I've searched through all my documents and I still can't find my passport.) 9 because of someone or something  (How many working days were lost through sickness last year? | Through your incompetence many of the hotel's regular guests have taken their business elsewhere.) 10 get through/go through to use a lot of something  (You wouldn't believe how many packets of cigarettes she gets through.) 11 using a particular person, organization etc to help you achieve something  (I got my first job through an employment agency.) 12 May through June/Wednesday through Friday etc AmE from May until June, from Wednesday until Friday etc  (The store is open Monday through Saturday.)  (- see inclusive) 13 if you go through a country, you travel across it  (It was while we were travelling through Africa that we decided to settle over there.) 14 if a law passes through a parliament, it is agreed and accepted as a law  (The bill's passage through Congress was not a smooth one.)  (- see also thru) ~2 adv 1 from one end or side of something to the other  (Let me through - I'm a doctor!) 2 read/think/talk etc sth through to read, think etc about something very carefully from beginning to end  (If you think it through - we have no choice but to agree to his demands.) 3 get through/come through/pull through etc to deal with a difficult situation or experience successfully  (I don't know why you worry about exams - you'll sail through as usual. | Doctors are unsure about whether she'll pull through.) 4 get through/make it through etc to reach a person, place etc after a difficult journey  (It's snowing too heavily, you'll never get through.)  (After days of effort, rescue teams have finally made it through to the survivors.) 5 wet through/cooked through etc informal very wet, cooked completely etc  (You're wet through. What on earth have you been doing?) 6 get through/be through BrE to be connected to someone by telephone  (I managed to get through to her after several attempts.) put sb through (=connect someone by telephone to someone else)  ("Can I speak to Mr Henry please?" "I'm putting you through sir.") 7 go through to London/Paris etc if something such as a train goes through to London it continues as far as London 8 through and through if someone is a particular type of person through and through, they are completely that type of person  (I'll say one thing for Sandra - she's a professional through and through.) ~3 adj 1 be through (with sb/sth) informal a) to have finished doing something, using something etc  (I'm not through just yet - I should be finished in an hour.) b) to no longer be having a relationship with someone  (That's it! Simon and I are through.) c) to have stopped doing something or using something that is bad or that you do not like  (He says he's through with drugs but it's just not that easy.) 2 through train/road a train or road by which you can reach a place, without having to use other trains or roads