Definition In a piecewise regression analysis, any unknown threshold is a random event or random threshold variable (RTV), and the expectation of the random threshold must and can only be estimated in a weighted mean. Therefore, any unknown threshold in the piecewise regression analysis is a weighted mean threshold . A piecewise model in the piecewise regression analysis or segmented regression is also called threshold model or segmented model. Synonyms There are several synonyms of the threshold in the piecewise regression analysis, such as critical point, segmenting point, changing-point, knot, shifting-point, switching-point, etc.