Meaning & use
thread
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A thin, long strand of twisted fiber used for sewing or weaving cloth.
Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a single strand ('a thread') or uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a piece of thread').
Patterns
- a thread of
- a piece of thread
- thread and needle
She chose a red thread to match the fabric.
The thread broke, so he had to rethread the needle.
You'll need a needle and some thread to mend that tear.
nouncountablecomputing
A connected series of messages or posts on the same topic in an online conversation.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'in' or 'on': 'a thread on the forum'.
Patterns
- a thread on something
- start a thread
- post in a thread
I found a helpful thread about learning Spanish on that forum.
She started a thread asking for book recommendations.
The thread got locked after people started arguing.
nouncountableliterary
A long, thin line or strand of something, such as light, smoke, or a spider's web.
Grammar: Often used in the pattern 'a thread of something'.
Patterns
- a thread of light
- a thread of smoke
- a thread of spider silk
A thin thread of light came through the crack in the door.
We watched a thread of smoke rise from the chimney.
The spider spun a delicate thread across the window.
verbtransitive
To pass a thread or similar thin object through a narrow opening, especially the eye of a needle.
Grammar: Takes an object: thread a needle. Often used with 'through': thread the string through the hole.
Patterns
- thread a needle
- thread something through something
- thread something onto something
It took her a minute to thread the needle.
He threaded the wire through the small hole in the wall.
She threaded the beads onto a string to make a necklace.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move carefully through a narrow space or between obstacles.
Grammar: Can be used with an object ('thread a path') or without ('thread through the crowd'), often followed by 'through'.
Patterns
- thread through something
- thread one's way through something
The cyclist threaded through the busy traffic.
We threaded our way through the narrow streets of the old town.
The river threads through the valley.
Word forms
| plural | threads |
|---|---|
| third person singular | threads |
| past tense | threaded |
| past participle | threaded |
| -ing form | threading |
Common combinations
- a needle and thread
- She always keeps a needle and thread in her bag.
- thread a needle
- My grandmother can thread a needle without her glasses.
- thread your way through
- We threaded our way through the crowded market.
- a thread of conversation
- I lost the thread of conversation when the phone rang.
- a thread on a forum
- There's a long thread on the forum about this topic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- string
- String is thicker and stronger than thread and is used for tying things, not usually for sewing cloth.
- yarn
- Yarn is a thicker spun fiber used for knitting or weaving, not for fine sewing.
- strand
- Strand is a single thin length of thread, hair, or rope; it emphasizes one piece rather than the material in general.
Word family
- threadlike adjective
- Thin and long like a thread.
- threader noun
- A tool used to help pass thread through a needle.
- threading noun
- The act of passing thread through something, or a hair-removal technique.
Commonly confused: thread or threat?
thread vs threat
Threat is a warning of harm; thread is a thin strand. They sound similar but have different vowel sounds and meanings.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
You thread a needle with thread (or cotton). Option B is wrong because 'through' would mean the needle goes through the cotton, which is not the usual action. Option C is incomplete (you need to say what you threaded it with or through). Option D is ungrammatical because 'thread on' needs an object after 'on'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thread”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.