THRESHOLD

doorsill, doorstep, threshold

(noun) the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

doorway, door, room access, threshold

(noun) the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close; “he stuck his head in the doorway”

threshold, limen

(noun) the smallest detectable sensation

brink, threshold, verge

(noun) a region marking a boundary

threshold

(noun) the starting point for a new state or experience; “on the threshold of manhood”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

threshold (plural thresholds)

The bottom-most part of a doorway that one crosses to enter; a sill.

(by extension) An entrance; the door or gate of a house.

(by extension) Any end or boundary.

(figurative) The outset of something; the point of entry, or the beginning of an action.

The start of the landing area of a runway.

(engineering) The quantitative point at which an action is triggered, especially a lower limit.

The wage or salary at which income tax becomes due.

The point where one mentally or physically is vulnerable in response to provocation or to particular things in general. As in emotions, stress, or pain.

Antonyms

• (bottom-most part of a doorway): lintel

Source: Wiktionary

Thresh"old, n. Etym: [OE. threswold, þreshwold, AS. þrescwald, þerscwald, þerscold, þrescold, fr. þrescan, þerscan, to thresh; akin to Icel. þreskjöde, þröskuldr, Sw. tröskel, Dan. tærskel. See Thrash.]

1. The plank, stone, or piece of timber, which lies under a door, especially of a dwelling house, church, temple, or the like; the doorsill; hence, entrance; gate; door.

2. Fig.: The place or point of entering or beginning, entrance; outset; as, the threshold of life.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition