thin film

noun

: a very thin layer of a substance on a supporting material

especially : a coating (as of a semiconductor) that is deposited in a layer one atom or one molecule thick

Examples of thin film in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Quickly stir until most of the flour is absorbed, then cook, stirring vigorously and breaking up pockets of dry flour as needed, until a thin film forms on bottom and sides of pan and dough comes together into a single mass, 2–3 minutes. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026

Researchers from the Institute of Science, Tokyo, have developed a new heat-to-electricity material that acts like an atomically thin film but comes in a more practical, solid crystal form. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

For instance, in 2018, Ristroph and colleagues fine-tuned the recipe for the perfect bubble based on experiments with soapy thin films. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

Rather than absorbing moisture, water molecules adhere to the outer and inner surfaces of the gel, filling all the open spaces and pores to form a thin film. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thin film

• biofilm
• microfilm