threat

noun

1. An expression of intent to injure or punish another.

   “There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.”

   “At the height of the crisis, according to a retired SAC wing commander, SAC airborne alert bombers deliberately flew past their turnaround points toward Soviet airspace, an unambiguous threat which Soviet radar operators would certainly have recognized and reported. "I knew what my target was," the SAC general adds: "Leningrad." The bombers only turned around when the Soviet freighters carrying missiles to Cuba stopped dead in the Atlantic.”

2. An indication of potential or imminent danger.

   “Verifying and addressing actual threats is not paranoia.”

   “Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.”

   “Taiwan is monitoring what it called "abnormal" changes to China's military leadership after its most senior general was put under investigation, and will not lower its guard as the threat level remains high, the defence minister said on Monday.”

3. A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.

   “Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.”

   “Japan applauds NATO’s identification of China as a threat in the Strategic Concept. The document notes that China poses “systemic challenges” and declared the “deepening strategic partnership” between Moscow and Beijing as one of its main priorities. Significantly, it explained that developments in distant theaters can “directly affect” trans-Atlantic security.”

verb

1. (transitive)To press; urge; compel.
2. (archaic, transitive)To threaten.

   “An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye […]”

   “What? threat you me with telling of the King? I will auoucht’t in preſence of the King: I dare aduenture to be ſent to th’Towre.”

   “O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.”

3. (intransitive)To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.

name

1. A surname.