thresholdthresh‧old /ˈθreʃhəʊld, -ʃəʊld $ -oʊld/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
Word Origin
She opened the door and stepped across the threshold.2the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect: Eighty percent of the vote was the threshold for approval of the plan.a high/low pain/boredom etc threshold (=the ability or inability to suffer a lot of pain or boredom before you react to it)3at the beginning of a new and important event or development SYN brinkbe on the threshold of something The creature is on the threshold of extinction.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + thresholdsomebody’s pain threshold (=your ability or inability to deal with pain)· ‘Will it hurt?’ ‘That all depends on your pain threshold.’somebody’s boredom threshold (=whether you do or do not get bored easily)· She loves challenges and admits she has a low boredom threshold.a tax threshold· The Conservatives promised to help the lower paid by increasing the tax threshold.a high threshold· Professional football players have a pretty high pain threshold.a low threshold· I know that young children have very low boredom threshold.verbsexceed a threshold· The value of many family homes far exceeds the inheritance tax threshold.lower a threshold· the demand to lower the retirement threshold to 60raise a threshold· They should raise the threshold to at least £245 a week.cross the threshold· Such a person has sufficiently crossed the threshold of criminality to justify punishment.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINthreshold
ExamplesOrigin:
Old English threscwaldEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- If the temperature falls below a particular threshold, a warning light comes on.
- Under the proposal, those whose earnings were less than a $36,000 threshold would not have to pay taxes.
- As Stillman reached the threshold of the station, he put his bag down once again and paused.
- He thought he was on the threshold of some awful enlightenment, an initiation of unimaginable pain.
- I felt myself at the threshold of another breakthrough, another change.
- If a council crossed an upper threshold implied by them it ran the risk of being capped.
- It's your threshold to the world of e-commerce.
- It is true that many of these creatures are aware of ordinary physical sensations beyond our human thresholds.
- The group expects to reach that threshold after circulating petitions at Earth Day events this weekend.
Longman Language Activatorthe smallest amount that is allowed or possible► the least
Collocations the smallest amount or number of something: the least (that): · £20,000 is the least we could accept for a car of this type.· The least anyone around here works is about 50 hours per week.
► minimum the minimum number or amount is the smallest number or amount that is possible or allowed: · What is the minimum wage these days?· The minimum age to buy cigarettes is 18.
► lower limit the least amount of something that is allowed within a range: · Age 3 is really the lower limit for teaching children to swim.lower limit of: · Deposits are subject to a lower limit of $400.
► threshold a number or level at which something begins to happen or to have an effect, especially the lowest number or level: · If the temperature falls below a particular threshold, a warning light comes on.· Under the proposal, those whose earnings were less than a $36,000 threshold would not have to pay taxes.
WORD SETS► Housealcove, nounattic, nounback door, nounbasement, nounbasin, nounbath, nounbath, verbbath mat, nounbathroom, nounbathtub, nounbedchamber, nounbedroom, nounblanket, nounblind, nounbottom drawer, nounbox room, nouncabinet, nouncistern, nouncowl, nouncrazy quilt, noundado, noundeadbolt, noundeck, noundinette, noundining room, noundoorbell, noundoorjamb, noundoorknob, noundoorknocker, noundoormat, noundoorpost, noundoorstep, noundoorstop, noundoorway, noundouble glazing, noundownspout, noundownstairs, adverbdrainpipe, noundrapes, noundrawing room, noundressing room, nouneiderdown, nounfamily room, nounfanlight, nounfender, nounfireplace, nounfireside, nounfloor, nounfoyer, nounFrench doors, nounFrench windows, nounfrieze, nounfront door, nounfurnishings, noungable, noungabled, adjectivegarage, noungarret, noungeyser, noungranny flat, nounhatch, nounhatchway, nounhearth, nouninglenook, nounironing board, nounjamb, nounkitchen, nounlarder, nounlattice window, nounlibrary, nounlino, nounlinoleum, nounliving room, nounloft, nounlounge, nounlumber room, nounmaster bedroom, nounmat, nounmorning room, nounornament, nounpalace, nounpane, nounpantry, nounparlour, nounparquet, nounpassage, nounpatio, nounpatio doors, nounpelmet, nounpenthouse, nounpied-à-terre, nounplayroom, nounporch, nounpublic housing, nounquilt, nounradiator, nounranch, nounranch house, nounreception room, nounrecess, nounrecessed, adjectiverecreation room, nounrug, nounrunner, nounself-contained, adjectivesemi, nounsemi-detached, adjectiveshade, nounsill, nounsitting room, nounskylight, nounspare room, nounsplashback, nounsplit-level, adjectivestair, nounstaircase, nounstairway, nounstairwell, nounstorm door, nounstorm window, nounstucco, nounstudy, nounsuite, nounsun lounge, nounsun porch, nounterraced house, nounthreshold, nountied cottage, nountrestle table, nountub, nounundercoat, noununderfelt, noununderlay, noununit, nounutility room, nounveranda, nounvilla, nounwainscot, nounwalk-up, nounwall, nounwallpaper, nounwallpaper, verbwall-to-wall, adjectivewarming pan, nounwashroom, nounwastebasket, nounwet bar, nounwhitewash, nounwhitewash, verbwoodwork, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + threshold► somebody’s pain threshold
1the entrance to a room or building, or the area of floor or ground at the entrance: (=your ability or inability to deal with pain)· ‘Will it hurt?’ ‘That all depends on your pain threshold.’
► somebody’s boredom threshold (=whether you do or do not get bored easily)· She loves challenges and admits she has a low boredom threshold.
► a tax threshold· The Conservatives promised to help the lower paid by increasing the tax threshold.
► a high threshold· Professional football players have a pretty high pain threshold.
► a low threshold· I know that young children have very low boredom threshold.
verbs► exceed a threshold· The value of many family homes far exceeds the inheritance tax threshold.
► lower a threshold· the demand to lower the retirement threshold to 60
► raise a threshold· They should raise the threshold to at least £245 a week.
► cross the threshold· Such a person has sufficiently crossed the threshold of criminality to justify punishment.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody’s pain threshold (=their ability to bear pain)· Everyone has a different pain threshold.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► certain· I am going to offer you certain words: threshold, attic, cellar, kitchen, bedroom, corridor.· If the total strength of the input signals exceeds a certain threshold, the unit sends a signal on to other units.· Above a certain threshold, these hot spots suddenly transformed into the all-or-none response that appeared as expanding circular or spiral waves.· Mall owners are entitled to collect between 5 percent and 10 percent of their tenants' sales beyond a certain threshold.· Some algorithms forward prune any paths which fall below a certain threshold.
► high· Anyone who said they liked observations must have a pretty high threshold of boredom.· He also had a high threshold of discomfort.· It also calls for a higher price threshold for company car tax.· Previous results have shown a higher threshold of rectal sensation in men than in women.
► low· If the target word in the position had a recognition score lower than the threshold then it was omitted.· I have a very low threshold for pain.· Their data can not exclude a 20% lower glucose threshold for adrenaline or a 24% lower threshold for noradrenaline with human insulin.· Indications for home monitoring of blood glucose in these patients are a raised glycosylated haemoglobin or a low renal threshold.· The point, though, is on a rather low threshold.· This lower threshold applies only to property, not personal injury.· Major award schools, on the other hand, started from a conspicuously lower threshold of library provision and use.
► minimum· We now have much less than our minimum protection threshold.· He said the government will consider introducing a minimum threshold of 20 percent.· Here was a new minimum threshold for promotion-it might make you more mature.
NOUN► boredom· My boredom threshold is next to nil.
► duty· Increasing the stamp duty threshold on house sales from £30,000 to £60,000.· However, his most welcome move was the raising of the Stamp Duty threshold from £30,000 to £60,000.
► level· There is a threshold level of income which is completely free of income tax.· The end of a nerve fiber is stimulated to or above its sensitivity threshold level.· Next, it must calculate a total for the combined input signals and compare that total to some threshold level.
► pain· Even though it was now well after midnight, the noise level was approaching the pain threshold.· That depends on your pain threshold.
► quality· Notably, the quality threshold is tied to the employer's existing exploitation of the patented invention.· How is it that Television South West passed the quality threshold, offered by far the most money but still lost?· It's reassuring to learn that the Government is apparently sympathetic to concerns about the quality threshold.
► tax· The income tax threshold for 2000-01 is £4,385.· Those with earnings just above the tax threshold bore the heaviest burden of the flat rate tax as a proportion of income.· Income tax thresholds were raised from G$10,000 to G$48,000 with lower tax rates planned to offset the withdrawal of personal allowances.· It could be paid for by a freeze on upper tax thresholds and personal allowances which would save the Treasury over £850m.· For a start, it slips under the 2 litre tax threshold.· As all but a few privileged children have an income below the tax threshold, this interest will be tax-free.· As this is over the inheritance tax threshold, it would bring a tax bill of £4,800.· Anyone with income below the income tax threshold of £4,385 is entitled to interest on savings tax-free.
► value· If the sum of the inputs is greater than the threshold value, the processing element generates a signal.
VERB► cross· In one sense I was dreading crossing a new threshold with my parents, who would have so many adjustments to make.· Just six of those parties managed to cross the 5 percent threshold necessary for official status in the Duma.· Groceries in hand, I crossed the threshold and moved into the entering phase of breaking and entering.· When people do cross the threshold of the church, do we make it easy for them to take that step?· There must have been a time billions of years ago when life crossed the threshold of irreversibility.· As soon as you got in, and your foot crossed the threshold, you called out your number.· If a council crossed an upper threshold implied by them it ran the risk of being capped.
► exceed· When the measurements exceed pre-programmed thresholds, alerts will be sent to a base station computer.· If the total strength of the input signals exceeds a certain threshold, the unit sends a signal on to other units.· Any system in which more than 10 percent of monitored, high-risk residences exceeded that threshold was cited.· If a software unit exceeds an error threshold, throw it out, and have a different developer do the recoding.
► lower· Each time you let it all hang out, you lower your threshold for doing it again.
► pass· How is it that Television South West passed the quality threshold, offered by far the most money but still lost?
► raise· This served to raise the rescue threshold by warning of the possible damage to the child of removal from the family.· Rather than cutting top rates of tax, it would be better to raise even further the thresholds for poorer taxpayers.· Mr Major raised the threshold to £200,000.
► reach· It is necessary to assume that, once a logogen has reached threshold, its activation level must decay away rapidly.· As Stillman reached the threshold of the station, he put his bag down once again and paused.· No other parties succeeded in reaching the 5 percent threshold required to win representation.· The group expects to reach that threshold after circulating petitions at Earth Day events this weekend.· On reaching the threshold he closed the throttle and flared.
► set· The new decision also sets an almost negligible threshold of collaboration.
► stand· We could, therefore, stand on the threshold of a new age of crisis.· One stands on the threshold of miracles that one can not create voluntarily....· As soon as the doors are opened, the adventurers find themselves standing at the threshold of room 49.· He stands at the very threshold of the age of electrical power-the Slavic genius who made it possible.· Beginning to wish he had never come, Mungo stood on the threshold of the last door.· Absalom Greer pushed open a door and the rector stood on the threshold in happy amazement.· This morning we stand on the threshold of the season of Lent.· Priscilla came to stand on the threshold of the room, her eyes downcast, her hands straight at her sides.
► step· Claudia, standing by the window, looking down at the street, knew the moment he stepped over the threshold.· A man was just stepping across the threshold of the temple enclosure.· Tallis stepped across the threshold and screamed as the true cold struck her.· Miles stepped across the threshold and into a different world.· Lorimer poked his head inside and then boldly opened the windows further and stepped over the threshold.· If she opened it and stepped over the threshold - No; she feared to discover what lay beyond.
She opened the door and stepped across the threshold.2the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect: Eighty percent of the vote was the threshold for approval of the plan.a high/low pain/boredom etc threshold (=the ability or inability to suffer a lot of pain or boredom before you react to it)3at the beginning of a new and important event or development SYN brinkbe on the threshold of something The creature is on the threshold of extinction.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + thresholdsomebody’s pain threshold (=your ability or inability to deal with pain)· ‘Will it hurt?’ ‘That all depends on your pain threshold.’somebody’s boredom threshold (=whether you do or do not get bored easily)· She loves challenges and admits she has a low boredom threshold.a tax threshold· The Conservatives promised to help the lower paid by increasing the tax threshold.a high threshold· Professional football players have a pretty high pain threshold.a low threshold· I know that young children have very low boredom threshold.verbsexceed a threshold· The value of many family homes far exceeds the inheritance tax threshold.lower a threshold· the demand to lower the retirement threshold to 60raise a threshold· They should raise the threshold to at least £245 a week.cross the threshold· Such a person has sufficiently crossed the threshold of criminality to justify punishment.