THREAD • noun: thread; plural noun: threads; noun: screw thread; plural noun: screw threads

1. A long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibres used in sewing or weaving. “he had a loose thread on his shirt”. 2. Cotton, nylon, or other fibres spun into long, thin strands and used for sewing. “she put her needle and thread away”. 3. A long, thin line or piece of something. “the Thames was a thread of silver below them”. 4. A theme or characteristic running throughout a situation or piece of writing. “a major thread running through the book is the primacy of form over substance”.

Synonyms: yarn, cotton, filament, fibre, strand, string, twine, line; ply, train of thought, drift, direction, sense, theme, subject matter, motif, tenor, strain, thrust, subject, gist, burden, action.

Origin: Old 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.