Main Entry: ten·u·ous

Pronunciation: \ˈten-yə-wəs, -yü-əs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin tenuis thin, slight, tenuous — more at thin

Date: 1597

1 : not dense : rare <a tenuous fluid>
2 : not thick : slender <a tenuous rope>
3 a : having little substance or strength : flimsy, weak <tenuous influences> b : shaky 2a <tenuous reasons> <on grounds that were tenuous>

synonyms see thin

— ten·u·ous·ly adverb

— ten·u·ous·ness noun