Thick
Pronunciation
- enPR: thÄk, IPA: /θɪk/
- Rhymes: -ɪk
Origin
From Middle English thicke, from Old English þicce ("thick, dense"), from Proto-Germanic *þikkuz, *þikkwiz ("thick"), from Proto-Indo-European *tegus ("thick"). Cognate with Dutch dik ("thick"), German dick ("thick"), Swedish tjock ("thick"), Albanian thuk ("I press, thicken, make dense"), Old Irish tiug ("thick") and Welsh tew ("thick").
Full definition of thick
Adjective
thick
- Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 17, The face which emerged was not reassuring. It was blunt and grey, the nose springing thick and flat from high on the frontal bone of the forehead, whilst his eyes were narrow slits of dark in a tight bandage of tissue. ….
- Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.I want some planks that are two inches thick.
- Heavy in build; thickset.
- 2007, James T. Knight, Queen of the HustleAs she twirled around in front of the mirror admiring how the dress showed off her thick booty, she felt like a princess in a children's storybook.
- He had such a thick neck that he had to turn his body to look to the side.
- Densely crowded or packed.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 3, My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.
- We walked through thick undergrowth.
- Having a viscous consistency.My mum’s gravy was thick but at least it moved about.
- Abounding in number.The room was thick with reporters.
- Impenetrable to sight.We drove through thick fog.
- Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.We had difficulty understanding him with his thick accent.
- (informal) Stupid.He was as thick as two short planks.
- (informal) Friendly or intimate.They were as thick as thieves.
- T. HughesWe have been thick ever since.
- Deep, intense, or profound.Thick darkness.
- Shakespearethick sleep
Synonyms
- (relatively great in extent from one surface to another) broad
- (measuring a certain number of units in this dimension)
- (heavy in build) chunky, solid, stocky, thickset
- (densely crowded or packed) crowded, dense, packed
- (having a viscous consistency) glutinous, viscous
- (abounding in number) overflowing, swarming, teeming
- (impenetrable to sight) dense, opaque, solid
- (difficult to understand, poorly articulated) unclear
- (informal: stupid) dense, dumb informal, stupid, thick as pigshit taboo slang, thick as two short planks slang
- (friendly, intimate) chummy UK, informal, close, close-knit, friendly, pally informal, intimate, tight-knit
- (deep, intense, or profound) great, extreme
Antonyms
- (relatively great in extent from one surface to another) slim, thin
- (heavy in build) slender, slight, slim, svelte, thin
- (densely crowded or packed) sparse
- (having a viscous consistency) free-flowing, runny
- (abounding in number)
- (impenetrable to sight) thin, transparent
- (difficult to understand, poorly articulated) clear, lucid
- (informal: stupid) brainy informal, intelligent, smart
- (friendly, intimate) unacquainted
Derived terms
Adverb
thick
- In a thick manner.Snow lay thick on the ground.
- Thickly.Bread should be sliced thick to make toast.
- Frequently; in great numbers.The arrows flew thick and fast around us.
Noun
thick
(uncountable)Derived terms
Verb
- (archaic, transitive) To thicken.The nightmare Life-in-death was she,
Who thicks man's blood with cold. — Coleridge.