# thread

/ˈθɹɛd/ (US) · /θɹˈɛd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thread
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. sewing string

noun · CEFR B1

a long, thin strand of cotton or silk used for sewing clothes.

For teachers: a fine cord of twisted textile fibres used in needlework and garment construction.

- She chose a blue thread that perfectly matched the colour of her new dress.
- The tailor selected a high-tensile silk thread to ensure the seams of the heavy coat would not burst under pressure.

### 2. internet messages

noun · CEFR B1

a series of connected messages or comments on a website or social media app.

For teachers: a chronological sequence of online posts or messages related to a single original topic.

- I found a very helpful thread on the forum about how to fix my laptop.
- The discussion thread grew to over three hundred comments as users debated the merits of the new software update.

### 3. logical connection

noun · CEFR B2

the idea or story that connects different parts of a book or speech.

For teachers: a consistent theme or logical progression that connects the successive points of a narrative or argument.

- It was hard to follow the thread of his story because he kept changing the subject.
- The detective struggled to find a common thread between the three seemingly unrelated crimes committed across the city.

### 4. computing process

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small part of a computer program that can run at the same time as other parts.

For teachers: the smallest unit of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler.

- The application uses a separate thread to download files so the screen doesn't freeze.
- By implementing multi-threading, the developers allowed the engine to process physics calculations and rendering logic simultaneously.

### 5. screw groove

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the raised spiral line around a screw or bolt.

For teachers: a helical ridge on a cylindrical fastener or within a hole, designed to convert rotation into linear motion.

- The screw wouldn't go in because the thread was damaged.
- The engineer specified a fine thread for the adjustment bolt to allow for more precise control over the tension.

### 6. to prepare a needle

verb · CEFR B1

to put a piece of thread through the small hole in a needle.

For teachers: to pass a length of filament through the eye of a needle or the guides of a sewing machine.

- He had to squint in the dim light to thread the needle.
- Before she could begin the embroidery, she had to thread the machine with a delicate metallic yarn that frequently snapped.

### 7. to move through

verb · CEFR B2

to move carefully through a crowded or narrow place.

For teachers: to make one's way through a series of obstacles or a crowded space with precision.

- The waiter had to thread his way through the crowded restaurant with a heavy tray.
- The motorcyclist expertly threaded through the stationary traffic, reaching the front of the queue just as the lights turned green.

### 8. hair removal

verb · CEFR B2

to remove unwanted hair using a piece of twisted string.

For teachers: to remove facial hair by using a doubled and twisted thread to pluck multiple hairs simultaneously.

- She goes to the salon every three weeks to have her eyebrows threaded.
- Threading is often preferred over waxing for sensitive skin because it does not involve the use of harsh chemicals or heat.

## Examples

- I need a needle and some blue thread to fix my shirt.
- If you want to follow the debate, you should read the entire Twitter thread from the beginning.
- The novelist skillfully weaves a secondary thread through the plot, connecting the protagonist's childhood memories to the central mystery of the present day.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.