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threat

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noun American English pronunciation: threat /θret/ 
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singularthreat
pluralthreats
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Related dictionary definitions

  1. 1
    [countable] an occasion when someone says that they will cause you harm or problems, especially if you do not do what they tell you to do
    threat of:

    After threats of legal action they stopped the construction.

    make/issue a threat:

    He would not make threats he wasn't prepared to carry out.

    death threats:

    He had received death threats.

    a bomb threat:

    A bomb threat forced them to make an emergency landing.

    an idle/empty threat (=a threat that is not serious):

    This isn't just an idle threat.

    a phone threat:

    She is charged with making phone threats to her ex-husband.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of threat
  2. 2
    [countable/uncountable] a situation or an activity that could cause harm or danger
    pose a threat:

    The dispute poses a direct threat (=is a threat) to peace.

    a threat to freedom/democracy

    threat to:

    Officials were confident there had been no threat to public health.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of threat
    1. a.
      [countable] someone who might defeat you or might cause problems for you

      She is not viewed as a threat by her former employer.

      threat to:

      He saw the other man as a real threat to his marriage.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of threat
    2. b.
      [countable/uncountable] the possibility that something bad is going to happen
      threat of:

      Constant threat of attack makes everyday life dangerous here.

      The threat of full-scale war has not been averted.

      face a threat:

      They face the threat of terrorism every day.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of threat

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This is the American English definition of threat. View British English definition of threat.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for threat.

 

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