θred n. & v. --n. 1 a a spun-out
filament of
cotton,
silk, or
glass etc.;
yarn. b a
length of
this. 2 a
thin cord of twisted yarns used
esp. in
sewing and weaving. 3
anything regarded as threadlike
with reference to
its continuity or connectedness (the thread of
life;
lost the thread of
his argument). 4 the
spiral ridge of a
screw. 5 (in pl.) sl.
clothes. 6 a thin
seam or
vein of
ore. --v.tr. 1 pass a thread
through the
eye of (a needle). 2 put (beads) on a thread. 3
arrange (material in a strip
form, e.g.
film or
magnetic tape) in the
proper position on
equipment. 4
make (one's way) carefully through a crowded
place,
over a
difficult route, etc. 5
streak (hair etc.) as with threads. 6 form a screw-thread
on. øhang by a thread be in a
precarious state, position, etc. thread mark a mark in the form of a thin line
made in
banknote paper with
highly coloured silk fibres to
prevent photographic counterfeiting. øøthreader n. threadlike adj. [OE thród f. Gmc]
