threads
[θrˈɛdz] /ˈthred How to pronounce thread (audio)/ (ame, mw)
threads — noun
1. long, extremely fine fibres that people use to stitch fabric, repair clothes, or
long, extremely fine fibres that people use to stitch fabric, repair clothes, or produce woven material.
Putri sorted the red and silver threads before repairing the wedding dress.
threads for sewing or mending clothes
The tailor kept spare threads in labelled boxes beside the sewing machine.
Loose threads hung from Brian's cuff after he caught it on a nail.
Grandma chose thicker threads for the blanket because the wool was heavy.
- sewing thread
more explicit and often used when the material is being described for a practical task
- strands
broader term for thin pieces of material; not limited to sewing
- fibres
more technical and often used for the material itself rather than the finished sewing item
文法句型
threads for sewing / mending + fabric or clothes
用法筆記
Usually plural when you are talking about several pieces for sewing. For one piece, English normally uses the singular form 'thread'.
2. narrow visible lines of smoke, light, water, or a similar substance stretching t
narrow visible lines of smoke, light, water, or a similar substance stretching through the air or across a surface.
Thin threads of smoke drifted above the wet leaves after the fire.
threads of smoke for narrow rising lines
At sunrise, golden threads of light reached across the temple floor.
Several threads of water ran down the cave wall after the storm.
From the boat, Noa saw threads of mist floating over the lake.
文法句型
threads of + smoke / light / water / mist
用法筆記
Common after 'of' when the speaker wants to picture something as a fine line rather than as a wide mass.
3. separate but related lines of events, ideas, or meaning that run through a story
separate but related lines of events, ideas, or meaning that run through a story, discussion, or piece of work.
The novel's final chapter ties the two family threads together neatly.
tie the threads together at the end
After lunch, Soraya picked up the argument threads from the morning meeting.
The documentary follows several historical threads without losing its main focus.
Indra mapped the research threads on a wall before writing the report.
- themes
focuses on repeated ideas, not on how the parts stay connected in sequence
- storylines
used mainly for plots in books, films, and television
- lines of thought
best for reasoning or discussion rather than fiction
文法句型
threads of a story / argument / research project
tie the threads together
用法筆記
Plural 'threads' often stresses that more than one line of meaning is developing at the same time. It is common in writing about plots, arguments, and research.
4. sets of linked online messages that stay under one topic and are read as a conti
sets of linked online messages that stay under one topic and are read as a continuing exchange.
By midnight, the football threads had filled the forum's front page.
threads on a forum or message board
Aylin saved the support threads so she could reread the printer fixes later.
The moderator locked the political threads after several members began insulting each other.
Most recipe threads on the app include photos and short cooking tips.
- discussions
broader word that does not itself imply an online chain of replies
- message chains
close in meaning, especially for email or chat replies
- comment chains
more specific to replies under one post rather than any online topic area
文法句型
threads about + topic
forum / support / political threads
用法筆記
This sense is common on forums, social media sites, help desks, and email systems where replies stay grouped under one topic.
5. spiral ridges on screws, bolts, pipes, or matching holes that let parts turn tog
spiral ridges on screws, bolts, pipes, or matching holes that let parts turn together and hold securely.
The damaged threads on the bolt kept the shelf from staying tight.
threads on a bolt or screw
Rohan cleaned the pipe threads before adding fresh tape and sealing the joint.
The mechanic checked whether the threads inside the cap were worn smooth.
A single grain of sand ruined the threads on the camera mount.
- screw ridges
plain descriptive phrase rather than a technical single-word label
- spirals
describes the shape, but not every spiral line is a usable screw thread
文法句型
threads on + bolt / pipe
threads inside + cap / nut
用法筆記
This sense appears in DIY, plumbing, mechanics, and camera work. Plural 'threads' refers to the set of ridges along the turning surface.
6. clothes, especially when someone is speaking casually about what a person is wea
clothes, especially when someone is speaking casually about what a person is wearing.
Brian wore his brightest threads to the music festival by the river.
informal threads meaning clothes
Putri packed a week's worth of threads in one small yellow suitcase.
The shop's vintage threads attract students looking for cheaper jackets.
After payday, Caleb bought new threads for his cousin's graduation dinner.
文法句型
new / best / vintage threads
wear + threads
用法筆記
Always plural and strongly informal. It often suggests stylish, noticeable, or newly bought clothes rather than clothing in a neutral sense.
threads — verb
- threadspresent simple I / you / we / they
- threadses3rd person singular
- threadsing-ing form
- threadsedpast simple
1. to pass a long thin object through a hole, loop, or tight space so it ends up in
to pass a long thin object through a hole, loop, or tight space so it ends up in place.
The nurse threads the tube through a small opening beside the wound.
threads an object through an opening
Each morning, Jisoo threads the cord through the badge before class starts.
The mechanic threads the cable behind the dashboard to hide it safely.
Caleb threads the drawstring into the hood after washing his jacket.
文法句型
threads + object + through/into + opening
用法筆記
The direct object is the thing that moves through the opening. The hole, loop, or channel normally appears after 'through' or 'into'.
常見錯誤
2. to remove facial hair by using a twisted thread that pulls the hairs out.
to remove facial hair by using a twisted thread that pulls the hairs out.
The beautician threads Soraya's eyebrows before the wedding photos begin.
threads eyebrows with a twisted thread
At the salon, the therapist threads Aylin's upper lip in a few minutes.
Mira threads her client's brow line carefully to keep both sides even.
During busy weekends, the shop threads dozens of customers' brows before noon.
文法句型
threads + eyebrows / upper lip / brows
用法筆記
This beauty-treatment sense is most common for eyebrows, the upper lip, and other fine facial hair. It is much more specific than general verbs like 'remove' or 'shave'.