threshold

American  

[thresh-ohld, thresh-hohld] / ˈθrɛʃ oʊld, ˈθrɛʃ hoʊld /

noun

1. the sill of a doorway.

2. the entrance to a house or building.

3. any place or point of entering or beginning.

   the threshold of a new career.

4. Also called limen.  Psychology, Physiology. the point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to begin to produce an effect.

   the threshold of consciousness; a low threshold of pain.

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threshold British  

/ ˈθrɛʃˌhəʊld, ˈθrɛʃəʊld /

noun

1. Also called: doorsill.  a sill, esp one made of stone or hardwood, placed at a doorway

2. any doorway or entrance

3. the starting point of an experience, event, or venture

   on the threshold of manhood

4. psychol the strength at which a stimulus is just perceived Compare absolute threshold difference threshold

   the threshold of consciousness

5. 1. a level or point at which something would happen, would cease to happen, or would take effect, become true, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      threshold price

      threshold effect

6. 1. the minimum intensity or value of a signal, etc, that will produce a response or specified effect

      a frequency threshold

   2. ( as modifier )

      a threshold current

7. (modifier) designating or relating to a pay agreement, clause, etc, that raises wages to compensate for increases in the cost of living

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Etymology

Origin of threshold

First recorded before 900; Middle English threschold, Old English threscold, threscwald; cognate with Old Norse threskǫldr, dialectal Swedish träskvald; akin to thresh in earlier sense “trample, tread”; -old, -wald element of obscure origin

Example Sentences

In the same poll, middle-income adults who reported that they had less take-home pay spiked to 11.2%, crossing the threshold likely to trigger recessionary conditions, Leer said.

From MarketWatch

Global stocks are rising, with European and Asian markets reaching all-time highs and US benchmarks nearing historic thresholds.

From Barron's

Global stocks are rising, with European and Asian markets reaching all-time highs and US benchmarks nearing historic thresholds.

From Barron's

"There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen - as long as Marc says 'I want to leave', because the final decision is always with the player."

From BBC

The company has also raised the threshold for when shoppers receive a complimentary item with a purchase—the biggest promotional shift in recent months, said Sekella.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brink
• verge