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

The terrain is mountainous, with parts covered by thick forests making it easy for migrants to go undetected.

From BBC

“We didn’t want that. We developed this tool called ‘Doodle’ — as you draw, and depending on your pen pressure, it makes the volume thinner or thicker.

From Los Angeles Times

This year, we are again in the thick of the season and temporary measures have been announced, like banning construction work.

From BBC

But the room was clearly thick with a lot of love and anticipation for Theophilio creative director Edvin Thompson’s always sensual, elegant and sometimes irreverent vision.

From Los Angeles Times

But even in the thick of it, there’s this weird glimmer of hope I can’t shake.

From Salon

Related Words

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