thick

[thik]

adjective

thicker, thickest 

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 bywith ).

   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

thicker, thickest 

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. unfair or excessive

11. 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 )

3. informal

   1. to exaggerate a story, statement, etc

   2. to flatter excessively

noun

1. a thick piece or part

2. the busiest or most intense part

3. in good times and bad

Other Word Forms

• thickish adjective
• thickly adverb
• overthick adjective
• overthickly adverb
• overthickness noun
• superthick adjective
• unthick adjective
• unthickly adverb
• unthickness 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, 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

In other instances, candle wax has damaged some of the internal stones, along with burnt incense sticks leaving thick soot which has blackened some stones beyond cleaning.

From BBC

Jones also had to swap her British accent out for a thick, distinctive Delco accent, as the dialect spoken by those from Delaware County is affectionately called.

From Los Angeles Times

The bright red material with thick black stripes was originally a Pendleton horse blanket in a Lord & Taylor’s Christmas window display.

From Los Angeles Times

As Matteoli drove the curves of Last Chance Grade last week, construction workers appeared out of the thick morning fog like neon-vested ghosts.

From Los Angeles Times

The main stage also has a thick concrete ceiling, and its subtly faceted acoustic wall panels, embedded with micro-perforations, double as sound absorbers and diffusers, subtly tuning the space.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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