Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin:

threat

 noun
     
threat S2 W2
1 [uncountable and countable] a statement in which you tell someone that you will cause them harm or trouble if they do not do what you wantCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
make/issue a threat (against somebody) carry out a threat (=do what you have threatened to do) give in to a threat (=do what someone wants you to do because they threaten you) empty/idle threat (=false threat) veiled threat (=one that is not made directly) death threat bomb threat
Your threats don't scare me.
threat of
the threat of military invasion
threat from
He says his family received phone threats from the group.
threats made against his wife and children
Nichols never carried out his threat to resign.
The government will not give in to terrorist threats.
She dismissed the statement as an empty threat.
They warned him with veiled threats not to mention anything he had witnessed.
The police are investigating death threats made against the two men.
Officials at the school say they received a bomb threat at approximately 11:30 a.m. today.
2 [countable usually singular] the possibility that something very bad will happen
threat of
the threat of famine
threat from
According to the Secretary of State, the Russians face no threat from an expanded NATO.
under threat
The area remains under threat from commercial developers.
be under threat of closure/attack etc (=be likely to be closed, attacked etc)
The program is under threat of closure due to lack of funding.
3 [countable usually singular] someone or something that is regarded as a possible danger
threat to
The fighting is a major threat to stability in the region.
present/pose a threat (to somebody/something)
Pollution poses a threat to fish.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary