thick

[ thik ]

adjective

, thick·er, thick·est.

1. having relatively great extent from one surface or side to the opposite; not thin:

   a thick slice.

2. measured, as specified, between opposite surfaces, from top to bottom, or in a direction perpendicular to that of the length and breadth; (of a solid having three general dimensions) measured across its smallest dimension:

   a board one inch thick.

3. composed of or containing objects, particles, etc., close together; dense: a thick forest.

   a thick fog;

   a thick forest.

4. filled, covered, or abounding (usually followed by with ):

   tables thick with dust.

5. husky or hoarse; not distinctly articulated:

   The patient's speech is still quite thick.

6. markedly so (as specified):

   a thick German accent.

   Synonyms: decided, pronounced, strong

7. deep or profound:

   thick darkness.

8. (of a liquid) heavy or viscous:

   a thick syrup.

9. Informal. close in friendship; intimate.
10. mentally slow; stupid; dull.
11. disagreeably excessive or exaggerated:

    They thought it a bit thick when he called himself a genius.

adverb

, thick·er, thick·est.

1. in a thick manner.
2. close together; closely packed:

   The roses grew thick along the path.

3. in a manner to produce something thick:

   Slice the cheese thick.

noun

1. the thickest, densest, or most crowded part:

   in the thick of the fight.

thick

/ θɪk /

adjective

1. of relatively great extent from one surface to the other; fat, broad, or deep

   a thick slice of bread

2. 1. postpositive of specific fatness

      ten centimetres thick

   2. ( in combination )

      a six-inch-thick wall

3. having a relatively dense consistency; not transparent

   thick soup

4. abundantly covered or filled

   a piano thick with dust

5. impenetrable; dense

   a thick fog

6. stupid, slow, or insensitive

   a thick person

7. throaty or badly articulated

   a voice thick with emotion

8. (of accents, etc) pronounced
9. informal.
   very friendly (esp in the phrase thick as thieves )
10. a bit thick
    unfair or excessive
11. a thick ear informal.
    a blow on the ear delivered as punishment, in anger, etc

adverb

1. in order to produce something thick

   to slice bread thick

2. profusely; in quick succession (esp in the phrase thick and fast )
3. lay it on thick informal.
   1. to exaggerate a story, statement, etc
   2. to flatter excessively

noun

1. a thick piece or part
2. the thick
   the busiest or most intense part
3. through thick and thin
   in good times and bad

Derived Forms

• ˈthickly, adverb
• ˈthickish, adjective

Other Words From

• thickish adjective
• thickly adverb
• over·thick adjective
• over·thickly adverb
• over·thickness noun
• super·thick adjective
• un·thick adjective
• un·thickly adverb
• un·thickness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thick¹

First recorded before 900; (adjective and adverb) Middle English thikke, Old English thicce; cognate with Dutch dik, German dick; akin to Old Norse thykkr (noun) Middle English, derivative of the adj.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thick¹

Old English thicce; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thikki, Old Norse thykkr

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lay it on thick, Informal. to praise excessively; flatter:

   He's laying it on thick because he wants you to do him a favor.

2. through thick and thin, under favorable and unfavorable conditions; steadfastly:

   We have been friends for 20 years, through thick and thin.

More idioms and phrases containing thick

• blood is thicker than water
• lay it on thick
• plot thickens
• through thick and thin

Example Sentences

In a post on X, the Indian capital's chief minister, Atishi Marlena Singh, said classes will move online until further notice due to a thick smog that has enveloped the city.

From BBC

The McWaids rushed to the garage, but as Ken McWaid opened the garage door, thick black smoke billowed in and hot embers singed his skin.

From Los Angeles Times

People in India's capital Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog as the air quality deteriorated to severe levels in the city.

From BBC

So thick is the smog that it is visible even from space.

From BBC

They were still in the thick of it when Cannes selected the movie for competition.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broad
• chunky
• fat
• hard
• heavy
• massive
• wide