threshold
1448
other grain-bearing plants) by beating it with a special tool or
with a threshing machine → -er n
thresh-old /'θreʃhəʊld, -ʃəʊld/ n 1 (a piece of wood or
stone fixed beneath) a doorway forming an entrance to a
building. It is an old custom for a newly married woman to
be carried across the threshold of her new house by her
husband. 2 [C usually sing.] the place or point of beginning,
especially of an important event or new development:
Scientists are now on the threshold of a better understand-
ing of how the human brain works. | Its opponents say the new
missile will lower the nuclear threshold. (=the point at
which NUCLEAR weapons begin to be used in a war) 3 espe-
cially tech the lowest level at which something begins to
operate, happen, produce an effect etc: She has a very low
threshold of pain/a low pain threshold. (=She feels pain
easily.) | a 15% increase in tax thresholds
threw /θruː/ past tense of THROW
thrice /θraɪs/ adv old use three times
thrift /θrɪft/ n 1 [U] fml wise and careful use of money and
goods; avoidance of waste 2 [C] also 'thrift in,stitution AmE for
SAVINGS BANK or SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
thrift-shop /'θrɪftʃɒp||-ʃɑːp/ n AmE a shop which sells used
goods, such as clothing or things to be used in the house,
often to raise money for CHARITY
thrift-y /'θrɪfti/ adj using money and goods carefully and
wisely; showing or practising thrift: a thrifty housewife/meal
—ily adv —iness n [U] → see also SPENDTHRIFT
thrill¹ /θrɪl/ n (an event or situation that produces) a sudden
very strong feeling of excitement, joy, or sometimes fear,
that seems to flow round the body like a wave: Meeting the
famous footballer was a great thrill for the children. | I felt a
thrill of terror as the door began to creak open.
thrill² v [I(at, to);T] to (cause to) feel a thrill or thrills: We
thrilled to (=when we heard) his tales of South Sea
adventure. | What a thrilling game; the winner was in doubt
until the last minute. | (fig.) We were thrilled (=very pleased) to
hear about your new job. —ingly adv
thrill-er /'θrɪlər/ n a book, play, or film that tells a very
exciting story, especially of crime and violence
thrive /θraɪv/ v thrived or throve /θrəʊv/ thrived [I] to
develop well and be healthy, strong, or successful; FLOURISH:
Few plants or animals thrive in the desert. | the thriving
computer industry | a thriving business | How are your
children? Thriving, I hope!
thrive on phr v [T] to enjoy and do well as a result of,
perhaps unexpectedly: Most people wouldn't like to have so
much responsibility, but she seems to thrive on it.
throat /θrəʊt/ n 1 the passage from the back of the mouth
down inside the neck that divides into two passages, one
taking air to the lungs, the other taking food to the stom-
ach: I've got a fish bone stuck in my throat. | She's off work
because of a sore throat. → see picture at HEAD 2 the front
of the neck: The murderer cut the old man's throat. 3 at each
other's throats fighting, arguing, disagreeing etc, bitterly
and violently 4 cut one's own throat to behave in a way,
especially through pride or anger, which will only bring
harm to oneself: We'll only be cutting our own throats if we
try to undercut them. 5 force/thrust/ram something down
someone's throat to force someone to accept or listen to
something, especially one's ideas or opinions, unwill-
ingly 6 -throated /θrəʊtɪd/ having a throat of the stated
kind: a red-throated bird → see also 'CUTTHROAT, DEEP
THROAT, jump down someone's throat (JUMP), stick in one's
throat (STICK)
throat-y /'θrəʊti/ adj infml (of a person) having a low rough
voice: a throaty singer | You sound throaty today. Have you
got a cold? —ily adv —iness n [U]
throb¹ /θrɒb||θrɑːb/ v -bb- [I] (of the heart, a machine etc) to
beat heavily and regularly: Her leg was throbbing with pain. |
throbbing drums
throb² n a strong low continuous beat: the throb of machin-
ery → see also HEARTTHROB
throes /θrəʊz/ n [P] 1 especially lit violent sudden pains, espe-
cially caused by dying (especially in the phrase death
throes) 2 in the throes of struggling with (some difficulty):
a country in the throes of war | We're just in the throes of
moving to a new house.
throm-bo-sis /θrɒm'bəʊsɪs||θrɑːm-/ n pl. -ses /-siːz/ [C;U]
the medical condition of having a CLOT (=a thickened or
solid mass of blood) in a blood tube or the heart → see also
CORONARY
throne /θrəʊn/ n 1 [C] the ceremonial chair of a king, queen,
BISHOP etc 2 [the S] the rank or office of a king or queen: He
was only 15 when he came to the throne/ascended the
throne. (=became king) → see also power behind the throne
(POWER) 3 [the] humor slang a TOILET: Sorry, you can't see him
just now — he's on the throne.
throng¹ /θrɒŋ||θrɔːŋ/ n [C(of)+sing./pl. v] a large crowd (of
people or things): Throngs of visitors crowded through the
art gallery.
throng² v [+adv/prep;T] to go (as if) in a crowd, filling a place
or building: People thronged to see the new play. | Passengers
thronged the station waiting for their trains. | streets thronged
with Christmas shoppers
throt-tle¹ /'θrɒtl||'θrɑːtl/ v [T] to seize (someone) tightly by
the throat to stop them breathing; STRANGLE: She nearly
throttled me when she tied my tie for me. | (fig.) These govern-
ment restrictions are going to throttle our trade.
throttle (sthg. ⇔) down phr v [I;T] to reduce the flow of
petrol, oil etc, to (an engine) so as to reduce speed
throttle² n a VALVE (=a doorlike part) in a pipe that opens
and closes to control the flow of liquid, gas, oil etc, into an
engine
through¹ /θruː/ prep 1 in at one side, end, or surface of
(something) and out at the other: The train went through the
tunnel. | I threw it through the window. | Water flows through
this pipe. | He pushed his way through the crowd to the door. |
We couldn't see through the mist. | Is it quicker to drive round
the town, or straight through the centre? | (fig.) He drove
straight through (=did not stop at) a red traffic light. 2 by
means of: I got this job through an employment agency. | It
was through John that they found out. 3 as a result or
because of: The war was lost through bad organization. | How
many working days were lost through sickness? 4 a) from
the beginning to the end of: He is very weak and is not
expected to live through the night. | I read right through/half
way through the article but found it uninteresting. | The
company is going through a difficult period. b) into and out
of a process or operation that has a beginning and end: The
new law has completed its passage through Congress. | We
went through the security check and boarded the
plane. 5 over the surface of or within the limits of: We
travelled through France and Belgium on our holiday.
6 among or between the parts or single members of:
The monkeys swung through the trees. | I searched through my
papers for the missing document. 7 having finished, or so as
to finish, successfully: Did you get through your exams? | Her
encouragement helped him through the crisis. 8 AmE (espe-
cially in expressions of time) up to and including: Wednes-
day through Saturday → see INCLUSIVE (USAGE) 9 against
and in spite of (a noise): The politician struggled to speak
through the shouts of the crowd. → see also THRU
through² adv 1 in at one side, end, or surface, and out at the
other: The guard at the entrance wouldn't let us
through. 2 [(to)] all the way; along the whole distance: Does
this train go right through to London? 3 from the begin-
ning to the end; to completion: Have you read the letter
(right) through? 4 to a favourable or successful state: 'How
did you do in your examinations?' 'I got through with good
marks.' 5 [(to)] especially BrE (when telephoning) in a state of
being connected to a person or place: 'Can you put me
through to Mr Jones?' 'You're through now.' 6 in every part;
thoroughly: I got wet through in the rain. | Have you really
thought this matter through? 7 through and through com-
pletely; in every way
through³ adj 1 [A] a) allowing a continuous journey: Is this
a through train or do I have to change? | The sign says 'No
Through Road', so we'll have to go another way. b) coming
from and going to somewhere outside a local area: through
traffic 2 [F (with)] infml finished; done: I'm not through just yet;
I should be finished in an hour. 3 [F (with)] infml having no
further relationship: Jane and I are through. | I'm through
with men/alcohol/you.