2 PHRASAL VERB If something throws up dust, stones, or water, when it moves or hits the ground, it causes them to rise up into the air. □ [V P n] If it had hit the Earth, it would have made a crater 100 miles across and thrown up an immense cloud of dust. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB To throw up a particular person or thing means to produce them or cause them to become noticeable. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] The political struggle threw up a strong leader. [Also V n P ]
throw|away /θroʊ əwe I /
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A throwaway product is intended to be used only for a short time, and then to be thrown away. □ Now they are producing throwaway razors.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that someone makes a throwaway remark or gesture, you mean that they make it in a casual way, although it may be important, or have some serious or humorous effect. □ …a throwaway remark she later regretted.
throw|back /θroʊ bæk/ (throwbacks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that something is a throwback to a former time, you mean that it is like something that existed a long time ago. □ [+ to ] The hall is a throwback to another era with its old prints and stained-glass.
thro w-in (throw-ins ) N‑COUNT When there is a throw-in in a football or rugby match, the ball is thrown back onto the field after it has been kicked off it.
thrown /θroʊ n/ Thrown is the past participle of throw .
thru' also thru Thru' is sometimes used a written abbreviation for through . [mainly AM ]
thrum /θrʌ m/ (thrums , thrumming , thrummed ) VERB When something such as a machine or engine thrums , it makes a low beating sound. □ [V ] The air-conditioner thrummed. ● N‑COUNT Thrum is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the thrum of refrigeration motors. □ My head was going thrum thrum thrum.
thrush /θrʌ ʃ/ (thrushes )
1 N‑COUNT A thrush is a fairly small bird with a brown back and a spotted breast.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Thrush is a medical condition caused by a fungus. It most often occurs in a baby's mouth or in a woman's vagina.
thrust /θrʌ st/ (thrusts , thrusting , thrust )
1 VERB If you thrust something or someone somewhere, you push or move them there quickly with a lot of force. □ [V n prep/adv] They thrust him into the back of a jeep. ● N‑COUNT Thrust is also a noun. □ Two of the knife thrusts were fatal.
2 VERB If you thrust your way somewhere, you move there, pushing between people or things which are in your way. □ [V n prep/adv] She thrust her way into the crowd.
3 VERB If something thrusts up or out of something else, it sticks up or sticks out in a noticeable way. [LITERARY ] □ [V adv/prep] An aerial thrust up from the grass verge. □ [V adv/prep] A ray of sunlight thrust out through the clouds.
4 N‑UNCOUNT Thrust is the power or force that is required to make a vehicle move in a particular direction. □ It provides the thrust that makes the craft move forward.
5 N‑SING [adj N ] The thrust of an activity or of an idea is the main or essential things it expresses. □ [+ of ] The main thrust of the research will be the study of the early Universe and galaxy formation.
6 cut and thrust → see cut
▸ thrust upon PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If something is thrust upon you, you are forced to have it, deal with it, or experience it. □ [be V -ed P ] Why has such sadness been thrust upon us? □ [have n V -ed P n] Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
thru|way /θruː we I / (thruways ) also throughway N‑COUNT A thruway is a wide road that is specially designed so that a lot of traffic can move along it very quickly. It is usually divided along the middle, so that traffic travelling in one direction is separated from the traffic travelling in the opposite direction. [AM ]
Thu. → see Thurs.
thud /θʌ d/ (thuds , thudding , thudded )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A thud is a dull sound, such as that which a heavy object makes when it hits something soft. □ She tripped and fell with a sickening thud.
2 VERB If something thuds somewhere, it makes a dull sound, usually when it falls onto or hits something else. □ [V prep/adv] She ran up the stairs, her bare feet thudding on the wood. □ [V -ing] There was a heavy thudding noise against the bedroom door. [Also V ] ● thud|ding N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the thudding of the bombs beyond the hotel.
3 VERB When your heart thuds , it beats strongly and rather quickly, for example because you are very frightened or very happy. □ [V ] My heart had started to thud, and my mouth was dry.
thug /θʌ g/ (thugs ) N‑COUNT You can refer to a violent person or criminal as a thug . [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the cowardly thugs who mug old people.
thug|gery /θʌ gəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Thuggery is rough, violent behaviour.
thug|gish /θʌ g I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as thuggish , you mean they behave in a violent, rough, or threatening way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The owner of the stall, a large, thuggish man, grabbed Dai by the collar.
thumb /θʌ m/ (thumbs , thumbing , thumbed )
1 N‑COUNT Your thumb is the short thick part on the side of your hand next to your four fingers. □ She bit the tip of her left thumb, not looking at me.