/θretn; `θrɛtn/
v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sb (with sth) make a threat or threats against sb; try to influence sb by threats 恐吓或威胁某人
*threaten an employee with dismissal 以开除要挟雇员
* My attacker threatened me with a gun. 攻击我的人用枪威胁我.
2 [Tn, Tt] use (sth) as a threat 用（某事）相要挟
*He threatened legal action. 他以起诉相要挟.
* The hijackers threatened to kill all the passengers if their demands were not met. 劫机者扬言若不满足他们的要求, 就把乘客都杀死. 3(a) [It, Tn] give warning of (sth) 预示（某事）
*It keeps threatening to snow, ie Snow seems likely all the time. 天总像是要下雪.
* The clouds threatened rain. 有乌云预示要下雨.
(b) [I, It] seem likely to occur or to do sth undesirable 似将发生; 似将做出令人不快的事
*under a threatening sky 在阴沉的天空下
* If a gale threatens, do not go to sea. 假若要起风, 就不要出海.
* a mistake that threatens to be costly 可能造成重大损失的错误.
4 [Tn] be a threat to (sb/sth) 对（某人[某事]）构成威胁
*the dangers that threaten us 威胁着我们的种种危险
* a species threatened by/with extinction 有灭绝之虞的物种.> threateningly adv
*The dog growled at me threateningly.那条狗对着我狂吠, 很吓人.

v
[T]
to say that you will cause someone harm or trouble if they do not do what you want
　Postal workers are threatening a strike if they don't receive a pay increase.
threaten to do sth
　He threatened to take them to court.
threaten sb with sth
　Doctors are sometimes threatened with violence if they don't do what patients want.
threaten (that)
　Then he became angry and threatened that he would go to the police.
[T]
to be likely to harm or destroy something
　Poaching threatens the survival of the rhino.
threaten to do sth
　The incident threatens to ruin his chances in the election.
be threatened with sth
　Large areas of the jungle are now threatened with destruction.
[I and T]
to be likely to happen or be in a bad situation
　Britain's fishing industry remains threatened.
　Dark clouds threatened rain.