Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

underthreshold

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: un-der-thresh-old
IPA

22

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Positioned below a threshold.

adj

Being below the threshold or outside of the ordinary limits of consciousness; subconscious; subliminal.

Example Sentences

"The notion "underthreshold" is to be explained as all that which is under the ordinary threshold or outside the customary bounds of consciousness; [...]"
"Accordingly, it represents an underthreshold load in trained persons, and no endocrine response was observed."
"In this way it is possible to describe the underthreshold membrane behavior of a neuron distinguishing the effects of synapses located in the main dendritic tree or near the trigger zone."

Etymology

From under- + threshold, probably a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “under-threshold”), from unter- (“under-”) + Schwelle (“threshold”). More at under, sill.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: under

Inflected Forms

more underthreshold (comparative) most underthreshold (superlative)

Questions

What does underthreshold mean?: Positioned below a threshold.
Where does underthreshold come from?: From under- + threshold, probably a calque of German unterschwellig (“subliminal”, literally “under-threshold”), from unter- (“under-”) + Schwelle (“threshold”). More at under, sill.

How to pronounce underthreshold

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