thresh

[ thresh ]

verb (used with object)

1. to separate the grain or seeds from (a cereal plant or the like) by some mechanical means, as by beating with a flail or by the action of a threshing machine.
2. to beat as if with a flail.

verb (used without object)

1. to thresh wheat, grain, etc.
2. to deliver blows as if with a flail.

noun

1. the act of threshing.

verb phrase

1. thrash ( def 12 ).

thresh

/ θrɛʃ /

verb

1. to beat or rub stalks of ripe corn or a similar crop either with a hand implement or a machine to separate the grain from the husks and straw
2. tr to beat or strike
3. introften foll byabout to toss and turn; thrash

noun

1. the act of threshing

Other Words From

• re·thresh verb (used with object)
• un·threshed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thresh¹

before 900; Middle English threschen, thresshen, Old English threscan; cognate with German dreschen, Gothic thriskan; akin to Dutch dorsen, Old Norse thriskja

Word History and Origins

Origin of thresh¹

Old English threscan; related to Gothic thriskan, Old Norse thriskja; see thrash

Example Sentences

There was no immediate comment from the Philippine government, now led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but the Department of National Defense has said that after the decision to terminate the Russian helicopter deal was made, a government committee would be convened to thresh out the details and work to recover the unspecified amount paid by the Philippine government to the Russian company.

From Seattle Times

Karl says that with this heat, I wrote to my uncle, my grain will be ready to thresh in about two weeks.

From Literature

In a few weeks’ time, my neighbors will come to help thresh my grain.

From Literature

Traditionally in Vietnam, people would grow their own rice and thresh it, some boiling it in a clay or metal pot over a fire of leftover rice straw.

From New York Times

They were going to the next place where neighbors had stacked their wheat and wanted the machines to thresh it.

From Literature