thin

¹thin

adjective \ˈthin\

thin·nerthin·nest

Definition of THIN

1

a : having little extent from one surface to its opposite <thin paper>

b : measuring little in cross section or diameter <thin rope>

2

: not dense in arrangement or distribution <thin hair>

3

: not well fleshed : lean

4

a : more fluid or rarefied than normal <thin air>

b : having less than the usual number : scanty <thin attendance>

c : few in number : scarce

d : scantily supplied

e : characterized by a paucity of bids or offerings <a thin market>

5

a : lacking substance or strength <thin broth> <a thin plot>

b of a soil : infertile, poor

6

a : flimsy, unconvincing <a thin disguise>

b : disappointingly poor or hard <had a thin time of it>

7

: somewhat feeble, shrill, and lacking in resonance <a thin voice>

8

: lacking in intensity or brilliance <thin light>

9

: lacking sufficient photographic density or contrast

— thin·ly adverb

— thin·ness \ˈthin-nəs\ noun

— thin·nish \ˈthi-nish\ adjective

— thin on the ground

: scarce 1

Examples of THIN

1. a thin coating of dust
2. pizza with a thin crust
3. a thin slice of ham
4. a thin stand of trees

Origin of THIN

Middle English thinne, from Old English thynne; akin to Old High German dunni thin, Latin tenuis thin, tenēre to hold, tendere to stretch, Greek teinein

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to THIN

Synonyms

bony (also boney), fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slender, slim, spare, svelte

Antonyms

chubby, corpulent, fat, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, rotund, tubby

Related Words

clean-limbed, trim; sylphlike, willowy; angular, rawboned, scraggy, scrawny, sinewy, wiry; lank, lanky, rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy; anorectic (also anoretic), anorexic, cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, wizened; meager (or meagre), puny, slight

Near Antonyms

beefy, bulky, chunky, fleshy, heavy, heavyset, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty; brawny, burly, husky; dumpy, pudgy, roly-poly, squat, stubby; paunchy, potbellied; flabby, soft; buxom, zaftig (also zoftig); fleshed-out, full, hippy, round

Synonym Discussion of THIN

thin, slender, slim, slight, tenuous mean not thick, broad, abundant, or dense. thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance <thin wire> <a thin soup>. slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion <the slender legs of a Sheraton chair>. slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness <a slim volume of poetry> <a slim chance>. slight implies smallness as well as thinness <a slight build>. tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness <a tenuous thread>.

Rhymes with THIN

bin, blin, chin, din, fin, Finn, Fyn, gin, grin, Gwyn, hin, in, inn, kin, linn, Lynn, pin, shin, Shin, sin, skin, spin, tin, twin, whin, win, wynn, yin, zin

²thin

verb

thinnedthin·ning

Definition of THIN

transitive verb

: to make thin or thinner:

a : to reduce in thickness or depth : attenuate

b : to make less dense or viscous

c : dilute, weaken

d : to cause to lose flesh <thinned by weeks of privation>

e : to reduce in number or bulk

intransitive verb

1

: to become thin or thinner

2

: to become weak

Examples of THIN

1. He added a little more water to thin the gravy.
2. The haze thinned in the late afternoon.
3. His face has been thinned by illness.

First Known Use of THIN

before 12th century

Related to THIN

Synonyms

cut, dilute, extend, lace, sophisticate, adulterate, water down, weaken

Antonyms

enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen

Related Words

load; befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, envenom, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, spoil, sully, taint; cheapen, debase, degrade; manipulate, misrepresent, tamper (with); counterfeit, fake, falsify, fudge; doctor, spike; attenuate, moderate, qualify, temper

Near Antonyms

fertilize, lard; augment, reinforce (also reenforce), supplement; decontaminate, purify; clarify, clean, cleanse, distill (also distil), filter, flush, leach, pasteurize, purge, refine; better, enhance, improve; compact, concentrate, condense

³thin

adverb

thin·nerthin·nest

Definition of THIN

: in a thin manner : thinly —used especially in combination <thin-clad> <thin-flowing>

Examples of THIN

1. She sliced the cheese thin.

First Known Use of THIN

13th century