thin

¹thin

adj \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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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