threat

CEFRB1

/θɹɛt/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A statement or sign that someone may cause harm.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.

Examples

  • A promise given under a threat is worthless.

  • Nuclear weapons are a threat to all humanity.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
3

Also pronounced

  • /fɹɛt/
  • /tɹɛt/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An indication of potential or imminent danger.

  2. An expression of intent to injure or punish another.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To press; urge; compel.

More examples

In context

  • The area is under threat from the sheer number of tourists using it.

  • Verifying and addressing actual threats is not paranoia.

  • There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English threte, thret, thrat, thræt, threat, from Old English þrēat (“crowd, swarm, troop, army, press; pressure, trouble, calamity, oppression, force, violence, threat”), from Proto-Germanic *þrautaz, closely tied to Proto-Germanic *þrautą (“displeasure, complaint, grievance, labour, toil”), from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to squeeze, push, press”). Cognate with Scots thret, threte, threit (“threat”), Middle High German drōz (“annoyance, disgust, horror, terror, fright”), Middle Low German drōt (“threat, menace, danger”), Faroese treyt (“struggle, labour, distress”), Icelandic þraut (“struggle, labour, distress”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian тру...