thick

[ thik ]
See synonyms for: thickthicksthickly on Thesaurus.com

adjective,thick·er, thick·est.
  1. having relatively great extent from one surface or side to the opposite; not thin: a thick slice.

  2. measured, as specified, between opposite surfaces, from top to bottom, or in a direction perpendicular to that of the length and breadth; (of a solid having three general dimensions) measured across its smallest dimension: a board one inch thick.

  1. composed of or containing objects, particles, etc., close together; dense: a thick fog;a thick forest.

  2. filled, covered, or abounding (usually followed by with): tables thick with dust.

  3. husky or hoarse; not distinctly articulated: The patient's speech is still quite thick.

  4. markedly so (as specified): a thick German accent.

  5. deep or profound: thick darkness.

  6. (of a liquid) heavy or viscous: a thick syrup.

  7. Informal. close in friendship; intimate.

  8. mentally slow; stupid; dull.

  9. disagreeably excessive or exaggerated: They thought it a bit thick when he called himself a genius.

adverb,thick·er, thick·est.
  1. in a thick manner.

  2. close together; closely packed: The roses grew thick along the path.

  1. in a manner to produce something thick: Slice the cheese thick.

noun
  1. the thickest, densest, or most crowded part: in the thick of the fight.

Idioms about thick

  1. lay it on thick, Informal. to praise excessively; flatter: He's laying it on thick because he wants you to do him a favor.

  2. through thick and thin, under favorable and unfavorable conditions; steadfastly: We have been friends for 20 years, through thick and thin.

Origin of thick

1
First recorded before 900; (adjective and adverb) Middle English thikke, Old English thicce; cognate with Dutch dik, German dick; akin to Old Norse thykkr (noun) Middle English, derivative of the adj.

Other words for thick

Other words from thick

  • thickish, adjective
  • thickly, adverb
  • o·ver·thick, adjective
  • o·ver·thick·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·thick·ness, noun
  • su·per·thick, adjective
  • un·thick, adjective
  • un·thick·ly, adverb
  • un·thick·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use thick in a sentence

  • When these plants are full two feet high, the top of the stems are broken off, to make the leaves grow thicker and broader.

  • The upper block was left a little thicker, the junction or root of the neck necessitating this.

    Antonio Stradivari | Horace William Petherick
  • The varnish has a thicker and less dainty aspect, although of excellent quality still, but there is an impression of heaviness.

    Antonio Stradivari | Horace William Petherick
  • If not, tune a shade lower than the perfect open fifth, if then right when tried as before, it requires a thicker string.

  • Its anterior portion is slender and thread-like, while the posterior portion is thicker (Fig. 112).

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for thick

thick

/ (θɪk) /


adjective
  1. of relatively great extent from one surface to the other; fat, broad, or deep: a thick slice of bread

    • (postpositive) of specific fatness: ten centimetres thick

    • (in combination): a six-inch-thick wall

  1. having a relatively dense consistency; not transparent: thick soup

  2. abundantly covered or filled: a piano thick with dust

  3. impenetrable; dense: a thick fog

  4. stupid, slow, or insensitive: a thick person

  5. throaty or badly articulated: a voice thick with emotion

  6. (of accents, etc) pronounced

  7. informal very friendly (esp in the phrase thick as thieves)

  8. a bit thick British unfair or excessive

  9. a thick ear informal a blow on the ear delivered as punishment, in anger, etc

adverb
  1. in order to produce something thick: to slice bread thick

  2. profusely; in quick succession (esp in the phrase thick and fast)

  1. lay it on thick informal

    • to exaggerate a story, statement, etc

    • to flatter excessively

noun
  1. a thick piece or part

  2. the thick the busiest or most intense part

  1. through thick and thin in good times and bad

Origin of thick

1
Old English thicce; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thikki, Old Norse thykkr

Derived forms of thick

  • thickish, adjective
  • thickly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with thick

thick

In addition to the idioms beginning with thick

  • thick and fast
  • thick and thin
  • thick as thieves
  • thick skin

also see:

  • blood is thicker than water
  • lay it on thick
  • plot thickens
  • through thick and thin

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.