A brief explanation please--Threading

I am wondering if some might be able to give me a brief explanation of what these Threading methods are used for.

I know what Start Does....so i am leaving that one out..lol

Join
Suspend
Abort


So say for example I had a Program some what like this. The reason for this is because I have form that does some database access and I want it to operate faster I was thinking putting it in a different thread might relieve it from the processes of the main app.

<vbcode>
Module Search
Public SearchThread as new System.Threading.Thread(AddressOf OpenSearchWindow)


Private Sub OpenSearchWindow
Dim frmSearch as new SearchWindow ' Name of a form in app
frmSearchWindow.ShowDialog()
End Sub

End Module



'In the main form I have a Search Button Call it Searchbutton..lol
'When the user clicks the search button it calls
SearchThread.Start

'This opens the search window and various DB queries are made per user request
'Now when window is closed I am not sure how to make it so that I may show this window again if they click the searchbutton.

Also what would happen if i did this

Searchthread.start
Searchthread.join

'ut those right after each other.

</vbcode>

Any help is greatly appreciated....also if anyone has any links to some good threading examples or tutorials