thick

[thik]

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adjective, thick·er, thick·est.

having relatively great extent from one surface or side to the opposite; not thin: a thick slice.

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.

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

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

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

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

deep or profound: thick darkness.

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

Informal. close in friendship; intimate.

mentally slow; stupid; dull.

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

adverb, thick·er, thick·est.

in a thick manner.

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

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

noun

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

Idioms

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

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

Origin of thick

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

Related formsthick·ish, adjectivethick·ly, adverbo·ver·thick, adjectiveo·ver·thick·ly, adverbo·ver·thick·ness, nounsu·per·thick, adjectiveun·thick, adjectiveun·thick·ly, adverbun·thick·ness, noun

Synonyms for thick

6. strong, pronounced, decided.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for thickest

heavy, wide, broad, hard, fat, chunky, massive, impenetrable, opaque, stiff, deep, gooey, syrupy, tight, abundant, dense, full, dull, muddy, soupy

Examples from the Web for thickest

Contemporary Examples of thickest

This involves “finding out who has the thickest skin to take on Democrats in the fall,” he says.
On to South Carolina: The Nastiest Primary State
Michelle Cottle
January 11, 2012

Historical Examples of thickest

Its longest exponent is Comte, its broadest Mill and its thickest Spencer.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
When the attorney reached the spot where the crowd was thickest, way was made for him.
The Gentleman From Indiana
Booth Tarkington
Thereupon he reined his horse backward through the thickest of the crowd.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
Howard Pyle
It was thickest near the ground, being pumped from cylinders.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
Nana and Pauline would stand for hours in the thickest part of the crowd.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for thickest

thick

adjective

of relatively great extent from one surface to the other; fat, broad, or deepa thick slice of bread

(postpositive)of specific fatnessten centimetres thick
(in combination)a six-inch-thick wall

having a relatively dense consistency; not transparentthick soup

abundantly covered or filleda piano thick with dust

impenetrable; densea thick fog

stupid, slow, or insensitivea thick person

throaty or badly articulateda voice thick with emotion

(of accents, etc) pronounced

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

a bit thick British unfair or excessive

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

adverb

in order to produce something thickto slice bread thick

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

lay it on thick informal

to exaggerate a story, statement, etc
to flatter excessively

noun

a thick piece or part

the thick the busiest or most intense part

through thick and thin in good times and bad

Derived Formsthickish, adjectivethickly, adverb

Word Origin for thick

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

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

Word Origin and History for thickest

thick

adj.

Old English þicce "not thin, dense," from Proto-Germanic *theku-, *thekwia- (cf. Old Saxon thikki, Old High German dicchi, German dick, Old Norse þykkr, Old Frisian thikke), from PIE *tegu- "thick" (cf. Gaelic tiugh).

Secondary Old English sense of "close together" is preserved in thickset and proverbial phrase thick as thieves (1833). Meaning "stupid" is first recorded 1590s. Phrase thick and thin is in Chaucer (late 14c.); thick-skinned is attested from 1540s; in figurative sense from c.1600. To be in the thick of some action, etc., "to be at the most intense moment" is from 1680s, from a Middle English noun sense.

thickest in Medicine

thick

[thĭk]

adj.

Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin.

Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension.

Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset.

Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense.

Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency.

Having a great number; abounding.

Impenetrable by the eyes.

Not easy to hear or understand; indistinctly articulated.

Noticeably affecting sound; conspicuous.

Producing indistinctly articulated sounds.

adv.

In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely.

In a thick manner; deeply or heavily.

n.

The most active or intense part.

Idioms and Phrases with thickest

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