dense

adjective \ ˈden(t)s \

Definition of dense

denser; densest

1 a :marked by compactness or crowding together of parts

dense vegetation

dense traffic

b chemistry :having a high mass (see ²mass 1c) per unit volume (see ¹volume 2)

Carbon dioxide is a dense gas.

The cake was overly sweet and dense.

2 a :slow to understand :stupid, thickheaded

was too dense to get the joke

b :extreme

dense ignorance

3 mathematics :having between any two elements at least one element

The set of rational numbers is dense.

4 :demanding concentration to follow or comprehend

dense prose

5 :having high or relatively high opacity (see opacity 2)

a dense fog

a dense photographic negative

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densely

adverb

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denseness

play \ˈden(t)-snəs\ noun

See dense defined for English-language learners

See dense defined for kids

Examples of dense in a Sentence

They cut a path through the dense jungle.
a dense tangle of wires
a dense cluster of stars
That part of the city has a dense population of immigrants.
A dense mass of spectators filled the courtroom.
In the movie, she plays his kind but somewhat dense aunt.

Recent Examples of dense from the Web

Some scars are thick, raised hypertrophic scars that stick out above the skin; others are keloid, which are scars that have over-healed, and manifest as dense, rubbery skin tissue.

— tina ferraro, Teen Vogue, "How to Get Rid of Acne Scars and Dark Marks: Your Complete Guide," 24 Aug. 2017
Because of zucchini's high water and fiber content, its consumption is considered by nutritionists as a great way to stay (healthily) full; the nutrient-dense fruit even contains omega-3 fatty acids.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "How to cook with summer's favorite squash," 10 Aug. 2017
At lunch in the Conservatory, enjoy salads fresh from the garden, or hearty ham-and-cheese sandwiches on dense breads, or smoked ravioli or any number of exquisitely prepared options.

— by brian melton, star-telegram, "Mind Your Manor: Ireland’s Ballyfin showcases 19th century country estate chic," 2 Aug. 2017
Troops long used to fighting insurgents in the jungles have struggled to rout the gunmen from Marawi’s dense urban sprawl.

— jim gomez, The Seattle Times, "Philippines: Leadership of Marawi attackers largely intact," 20 July 2017
Running parallel to Little Ethiopia, CBS Studios, the Grove, and moving north to West Hollywood, the streetcar would serve a dense area sorely missing rail service.

— neal broverman, Los Angeles Magazine, "4 Neighborhoods That Need a Streetcar More Than DTLA," 19 July 2017
In a similar vein, the dense packing of cities raises the stakes for events like earthquakes and heat waves.

— oliver suess, Bloomberg.com, "Who Pays for the Rising Cost of Natural Disasters: QuickTake Q&A," 18 July 2017
On a recent morning, Mr. Chagua trudged through a dense rain forest of vines and tropical birds, which suddenly opened up to his coca farm.

— nicholas casey, New York Times, "After Decades of War, Colombian Farmers Face a New Test: Peace," 18 July 2017
One video shows a small bulldozer steaming through a dense pile of fish to clear the roadway.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Overturned truck spills tons of sticky 'slime eels' on Oregon highway," 14 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dense

Latin densus; akin to Greek dasys thick with hair or leaves

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

dense Synonyms

Synonyms

compact, crowded, close, jam-packed, packed, serried, thick, tight

Antonyms

airy, loose, open, uncrowded

Related Words

crammed, jammed, overcrowded; crushed, massed, pressed, squeezed, wall-to-wall; airtight, snug; compacted, compressed, condensed, congested; firm, hard, solid; impenetrable, impermeable, impervious

Near Antonyms

commodious, roomy, spacious

Synonym Discussion of dense

stupid, dull, dense, crass, dumb mean lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions. stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

- stupid students just keeping the seats warm
- stupid with drink

dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

- monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

- too dense to take a hint

crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

- a crass, materialistic people

dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

- too dumb to figure out what's going on

DENSE Defined for English Language Learners

dense

adjective

Definition of dense for English Language Learners

: having parts that are close together
: crowded with people
: not smart : not able to understand things easily

DENSE Defined for Kids

dense

adjective \ ˈdens \

Definition of dense for Students

denser; densest

1 :having its parts crowded together :thick

dense vegetation

dense fog

2 :stupid 1

I'm not dense enough to believe this story.

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densely

adverb

a densely populated region

Synonym Discussion of dense

dense, thick, and compact mean having parts that are gathered tightly together. dense is used of something in which the parts are very close together.