Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Thread?

\Thread\ (thr[e^]d), n. [OE. threed, [thorn]red, AS. [thorn]r[=ae]d; akin to D. draad, G. draht wire, thread, OHG. dr[=a]t, Icel. [thorn]r[=a][eth]r a thread, Sw. tr[*a]d, Dan. traad, and AS. [thorn]r[=a]wan to twist. See {Throw}, and cf. {Third}.] 1. A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted. 2. A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark; also, a line of gold or silver. 3. The prominent part of the spiral of a screw or nut; the rib. See {Screw}, n., 1. 4. Fig.: Something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s the thread of life, or of a discourse. --Bp. Burnet. 5. Fig.: Composition; quality; fineness. [Obs.] A neat courtier, Of a most elegant thread. --B. Jonson. {Air thread}, the fine white filaments which are seen floating in the air in summer, the production of spiders; gossamer. {Thread and thrum}, the good and bad together. [Obs.] --Shak. {Thread cell} (Zo["o]l.), a lasso cell. See under {Lasso}. {Thread herring} (Zo["o]l.), the gizzard shad. See under {Gizzard}. {Thread lace}, lace made of linen thread. {Thread needle}, a game in which children stand in a row, joining hands, and in which the outer one, still holding his neighbor, runs between the others; -- called also {thread the needle}.
\Thread\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Threaded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Threading}.] 1. To pass a thread through the eye of; as, to thread a needle. 2. To pass or pierce through as a narrow way; also, to effect or make, as one's way, through or between obstacles; to thrid. Heavy trading ships . . . threading the Bosphorus. --Mitford. They would not thread the gates. --Shak. 3. To form a thread, or spiral rib, on or in; as, to thread a screw or nut.