- [uncountable, countable]
a thin string of cotton, wool, silk, etc. used for sewing or making cloth (棉、毛、絲等的)線 a needle and thread 針線 a robe embroidered with gold thread 用金線繡的長袍 the delicate threads of a spider’s web 蜘蛛網的纖絲 You've pulled a thread in your jumper. 你的套衫開線了。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- strong
- delicate
- fine
- …
- length
- piece
- spin
- pull
- cut
- …
- hanging by a thread
- needle and thread
- [countable]
an idea or a feature that is part of something greater; an idea that connects the different parts of something 線索;脈絡;思路;貫穿的主線 A common thread runs through these discussions. 這些討論都貫穿着一條共同的主線。 The author skilfully draws together the different threads of the plot. 作者娴熟地把情節的各種線索串聯在一起。 I lost the thread of the argument (= I could no longer follow it). 我再跟不上這論證的思路了。 The speaker lost his thread (= forgot what he wanted to say) halfway through the talk. 講話者講到一半亂了思路。
Extra ExamplesAs the film progresses, the threads of the plot slowly begin to unravel. 随着電影的展開,情節的脈絡漸漸明朗起來。 I found it hard to follow the main thread of his argument. 我覺得很難跟上他論證的主線。 On studying the different historians' accounts, common threads emerge. 研究不同歷史學家的記載,會發現其中有共同的線索。 Apart from one or two loose threads, the police now had the complete picture of what happened. 除了一兩條鬆散的線索之外,警察對於發生的事情已經有了全盤了解。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- central
- main
- common
- …
- have
- follow
- trace
- …
- run through something
- connect
- link
- …
- [countable] thread (of something)
a long, thin line of something 線狀物;細細的一條 - [countable] (
computing )計算機 a series of connected messages on email, social media, etc. that have been sent by different people Topics Phones, email and the internetc1(互聯網留言板上帖子的)系列相關信息,鏈式消息 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- comment
- discussion
- open
- start
- [countable]
the raised line that runs around the length of a screw and that allows it to be fixed in place by twisting 螺紋 - threads[plural] (North American English, old-fashioned, informal)
clothes 衣服


Word OriginOld English thrǣd (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch draad and German Draht, also to the verb throw. The verb dates from late Middle English.
Idioms
hang by a hair/thread
(of a person’s life )人的生命 to be in great danger Topics Dangerc2命懸一線;氣若遊絲;危在旦夕
pick up the threads
to return to an earlier situation or way of life after a period doing something else 恢複原狀