Category:Thread

Thread, n. Etym: [oe. threed,, as. ; akin to d. draad, g. draht Wire, thread, ohg. drat, icel. a thread, sw. tråd, dan. traad, and As. 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 (zoöl.), a lasso cell. See under lasso. -- thread herring (zoöl.), 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 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.