Threadbare — Thread bare , a. 1. Worn to the naked thread; having the nap worn off; threadbare clothes. A threadbare cope. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Fig.: Worn out; as, a threadbare subject; stale topics and threadbare quotations. Swift. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
threadbare — [thred′ber΄] adj. 1. worn down so that the threads show; having the nap or surface fibers worn off [threadbare rugs] 2. wearing old, worn clothes; shabby 3. that has lost freshness or novelty; stale [a threadbare argument] … English World dictionary
threadbare — [adj1] worn, frayed beat up*, damaged, dilapidated, dingy, dog eared, downat the heel*, faded, frowzy*, impaired, injured, old, ragged, ratty*, run down, scruffy, seedy, shabby, shopworn, tacky, tattered, timeworn, used, used up, worn out, worse… … New thesaurus
threadbare — index trite Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
threadbare — mid 14c., from THREAD (Cf. thread) + BARE (Cf. bare). The notion is of having the nap worn off, leaving bare the threads … Etymology dictionary
threadbare — 1 *shabby, dilapidated, dingy, faded, seedy Analogous words: damaged, injured, impaired (see INJURE): worn (see HAGGARD) 2 shopworn, *trite, hackneyed, stereotyped Analogous words: antiquated, obsolete, archaic (see OLD): exhausted, depleted,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
threadbare — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ thin and tattered with age; worn out … English terms dictionary
threadbare — adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. having the nap worn off so that the thread shows ; shabby < threadbare clothes > b. wearing threadbare clothing ; very poor < took in threadbare relatives Russell Baker > c. barely adequate because of cheapness… … New Collegiate Dictionary
threadbare — threadbareness, n. /thred bair /, adj. 1. having the nap worn off so as to lay bare the threads of the warp and woof, as a fabric, garment, etc. 2. wearing threadbare clothes; shabby or poor: a threadbare old man. 3. meager, scanty, or poor: a… … Universalium
threadbare — thread|bare [ θred,ber ] adjective 1. ) threadbare clothing, carpet, or cloth is very thin and almost has holes in it because it has been worn or used a lot a ) wearing or containing threadbare things: the threadbare family apartment 2. ) a… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
threadbare — [[t]θre̱dbeə(r)[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Threadbare clothes, carpets, and other pieces of cloth look old, dull, and very thin, because they have been worn or used too much. She sat cross legged on a square of threadbare carpet. Syn: worn 2) ADJ GRADED… … English dictionary
