n (1)(尼龙，棉，毛)线(thin strand of cotton，wool，silk，etc esp when used for sewing)[C，U]：loose/coloured～s 松散的线/花色线;cotton/nylon/gold～棉纱/尼龙/金线;a needle and～针线;sew on the buttons with～用线缝扣子;

(2)细长的东西(anything that resembles a thread in thinness，fineness，etc) [C] (fig)：a～of light/smoke 一丝光/一缕烟;fine～s of red in the marble 大理石中的红色细纹;

(3)线索，头绪(sth that runs through sth else bringing the parts of it together) [C] (fig)：the～s of a debate 辩论中各种论点;pick/take up～(s) (中断后)按原脉络接着进行下去;lose the～of the argument/a story/what sb is saying 没抓住论点/故事/某人讲话的头绪;

(4)螺纹(spiral ridge around a screw)[C]：a worn～磨损的螺纹;

hang by a single thread 千钧一发，垂危：Her life is hanging by a single～. 她生命垂危。

vt (1) 1)穿线过……(pass one end of a thread through the eye of a needle or similar device)[T+n，T+n+prep]：～a needle(用线)穿针;～the wire through the opening 把金属线穿过那个孔; 2)用线穿起来(connect by running a thread through)：～pearls/shells/beads together to make a necklace(用线)把珍珠/贝壳/小珠子穿成一串项链;

(2)把(影片，磁带等)装好待用(pass a tape or film，etc into or through a device)[T+n，T+n+prep，T+n+adv]：～the motion-picture projector/a camera 为放映机装影片/照像机装胶片;～the film to a projector/wire through the pulley 把影片装到放映机上/金属线穿在滑轮上;

thread one's way through 穿过，挤过：～one's way through the crowd with difficulty 费力地穿过拥挤的人群;

→′thread-like adj 像线的;细长的;′threadbare adj 磨薄的;破的;陈腐的;

【辨异】thread 与cord、rope、string和wire的区别见CORD。