Meaning

(transitive, agriculture) To separate the grain from the straw or husks (chaff) by mechanical beating, with a flail or machinery, or by driving animals over them..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, agriculture) To separate the grain from the straw or husks (chaff) by mechanical beating, with a flail or machinery, or by driving animals over them.
2. (transitive, literary) To beat soundly, usually with some tool such as a stick or whip; to drub.
3. (intransitive, literary) To violently toss the limbs about.
4. (transitive, literary, usually with 'over') To belabor; to go over repeatedly, especially an argument.
5. (nautical) To drive through adverse conditions (wind, waves).

Example Sentences

The jay fell all lopsidedly and threshing, as though it were having a fit. The ground killed it.

Word Forms

• threshes
• threshing
• threshed

Synonyms for thresh

Related Words

When Should You Use Thresh?

Use thresh when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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