- 1the floor or ground at the bottom of a doorway, considered as the entrance to a building or room She stood hesitating on the threshold. He stepped across the threshold.
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- 2the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect He has a low boredom threshold (= he gets bored easily). I have a high pain threshold (= I can suffer a lot of pain before I start to react). My earnings are just above the tax threshold (= more than the amount at which you start paying tax).
- 3[usually singular] the point just before a new situation, period of life, etc. begins She felt as though she was on the threshold of a new life.
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