thick

[ thik ]

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.

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

   a thick fog;

   a thick forest.

4. filled, covered, or abounding (usually followed by with ):

   tables thick with dust.

5. husky or hoarse; not distinctly articulated:

   The patient's speech is still quite thick.

6. markedly so (as specified):

   a thick German accent.

   Synonyms: decided, pronounced, strong

7. deep or profound:

   thick darkness.

8. (of a liquid) heavy or viscous:

   a thick syrup.

9. Informal. close in friendship; intimate.
10. mentally slow; stupid; dull.
11. 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.

3. 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.

thick

/ θɪk /

adjective

1. of relatively great extent from one surface to the other; fat, broad, or deep

   a thick slice of bread

2. 1. postpositive of specific fatness

      ten centimetres thick

   2. ( in combination )

      a six-inch-thick wall

3. having a relatively dense consistency; not transparent

   thick soup

4. abundantly covered or filled

   a piano thick with dust

5. impenetrable; dense

   a thick fog

6. stupid, slow, or insensitive

   a thick person

7. throaty or badly articulated

   a voice thick with emotion

8. (of accents, etc) pronounced
9. informal.
   very friendly (esp in the phrase thick as thieves )
10. a bit thick
    a bit thick unfair or excessive
11. a thick ear informal.
    a thick ear 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 )
3. lay it on thick informal.
   lay it on thick
   1. to exaggerate a story, statement, etc
   2. to flatter excessively

noun

1. a thick piece or part
2. the thick
   the thick the busiest or most intense part
3. through thick and thin
   through thick and thin in good times and bad

Derived Forms

• ˈthickish, adjective
• ˈthickly, adverb

Other Words From

• thickish adjective
• thickly 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thick¹

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thick¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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.

More idioms and phrases containing thick

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

Example Sentences

Fans generally believe that the ideal oat porridge should be thick enough to offer some resistance, but smooth enough to go down easily.

From Eater

We’re moving away from the convention period of the race and into the thick of the election.

From FiveThirtyEight

Then we woke up with its thick, hot smoke upon us and realized it was smothering our lives.

From ProPublica

The wheels are 200 millimeters thick, and can maintain great speed and a smooth ride over almost any city street or sidewalk.

From Popular-Science

A slimmer knife will be more comfortable to carry than a thicker one.

From Outside Online

But the people from Valley Stream had such a thick New York accent that was all around me.

From The Daily Beast

His chin rested on the thick plastic collar buckled around his neck.

From The Daily Beast

At the highest navigable point of the Congo River, thick jungle creates an impenetrable wall of green around a large island.

From The Daily Beast

Small rooms off its graffiti-covered foyer provide shelter from the thick rain that can unexpectedly, and vengefully, hit.

From The Daily Beast

The Barclays Center where the Duke and Duchess will be seated would have stood in thick of where the pivotal action transpired.

From The Daily Beast

We stumbled along, close up, for the thick-piled clouds still hung their light-obscuring banners over the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

The eyebrows were low and thick, the upper lip was sensitive, quivering sometimes as she talked, but the lower was firm and full.

From Project Gutenberg

Cystin crystals are colorless, highly refractive, rather thick, hexagonal plates with well-defined edges.

From Project Gutenberg

In a voice thick with the torturing rage of impotence he gave the order upon which the grim Parisian insisted.

From Project Gutenberg

She locks the door behind them, and throws the key among the nettles that grew in a thick grove at her right.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• broad
• chunky
• fat
• hard
• heavy
• massive
• wide