threat /θret/ n. ［c］ 1.威胁，恐吓：a threat against/to one’s life 对于某人生命的威胁；carry out a threat 进行恐吓The threat of flood has been relieved. 洪水的威胁解除了。The use of nuclear weapons is a horrible threat to the species.核武器对人类是一个严重威胁。The fresh diplomatic proposal follows Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.本周初伊朗威慑要封锁赫尔姆斯海峡后就有人提出了新的外交建议。［考句］The survival of civilization as we know it is under threat. 我们所知的文明的延续受到威胁。2.凶兆，征兆：a storm threat 暴风雨的征兆 The clouds brought a threat of rain. 这些云朵是下雨的征兆。

 

threaten /ˈθretən/ vt. 1.威胁，扬言要： threaten sb. with death 以死恫吓某人；threaten to make it public 扬言要公开此事The miners are frequently threatened by gas explosion. 矿工们经常受到瓦斯爆炸的威胁。 2.预示，是…的征兆: It threatens to rain. 天有下雨之势。The company is threatened with bankruptcy. 这家公司有破产的危险。


threatening adj. 胁迫的，险恶的：Methane is considered more threatening to the environment than carbon dioxide.大家认为甲烷对环境的威慑大于二氧化碳。