Showing results for "thinner"

• comparative of thin.

thinner

¹ American  

[thin-er] / ˈθɪn ər /

noun

thinners plural

1. a volatile liquid, as turpentine, used to dilute paint, varnish, rubber cement, etc., to the desired or proper consistency.

2. a person who adds thinners to paints, varnishes, etc.

3. a person who specializes in weeding plants, pruning shrubbery, thinning fruit, etc.

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thinner ² American  

[thin-er] / ˈθɪn ər /

adjective

1. comparative of thin.

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thinner British  

/ ˈθɪnə /

noun

1. (often plural, functioning as singular) a solvent, such as turpentine, added to paint or varnish to dilute it, reduce its opacity or viscosity, or increase its penetration into the ground

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thinners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of thinner

First recorded in 1825–35; thin + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Thinner cattle herds, tariffs and plant closures have sent prices hovering near record levels.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Thinner market conditions could add downward pressure on prices.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Thinner chip components would provide greater control and precision over the flow of electricity in a device, while lowering the amount of energy required to power it.

From Science Daily • Sep. 19, 2023

Thinner skins and a lack of seeds are supposed to reduce bitterness, which is where the name “burpless” came from, since they are supposed to be easier to digest.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2022

Thinner than the skin of an apple is the covering of the earth that man tills.

From Proceedings of the Second National Conservation Congress at Saint Paul, September 5-8, 1910 by United States. National Conservation Congress

Related Words

• delicate
• fragile
• gaunt
• lean
• meager
• narrow
• skinny
• slim
• small