thicken
thicken
Definition
thicken (t̸hik′ən)
transitive verb, intransitive verb
- to make or become thick or thicker, as in dimension, density, consistency, articulation, etc.
- to make or become more complex or involved the plot thickened
thicken
Synonyms
thicken
v.
thicken
Usage Examples
Object
- mucus: It also thickens the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to get into the womb.
- epoxy: Then drill the smaller hole through the thickened epoxy.
- gravy: To serve - slice the meat and serve with the thickened gravy.
- sauce: Remove the bay leaf and serve the beef olives with the onions and thickened sauce.
- soup: Crush some of the potatoes against the side of the pan to thicken the soup.
- cloud: Thin high cloud thickened during the morning with frontal cloud over Ireland moving into the Irish Sea.
Modifying Another Word
- slightly: Bring to the boil and cook until thickened slightly.
- gradually: The hormones also cause the womb lining to thicken gradually.
- again: The bottle rim was again thickened with a ring of epoxy modeling putty.
- enough: Blend until the mixture thickens enough to let you bring it together in your hands.
- then: Continue to cook until thickened then remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted.
- much: If the sauce thickens too much, adjust it by whisking in a spoonful of hot water.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- up: My sons skull has thickened up in the places he head bangs the most.
Followed by a transitive particle
- up: Thicken up runny low-fat yogurt by stirring in a spoonful of lard.
Used with why or when
- when: Marcia goes missing and the plot thickens when her teachers / landlord etc deny ever knowing her.
Preposition: of
- skin: Thickening of this skin indicates a higher risk of Down's syndrome.
- tissue: This is because of swelling and then thickening of the connective tissue which becomes fibrotic or scarred.
- artery: In most cases, the cause of angina is coronary atherosclerosis ( thickening of the arteries supplying blood to the heart ).
Preposition: with
- flour: These sauces were usually thickened with wheat flour or crumbled pastry.
- cornflour: Can be thickened with a little cornflour if desired.
Browse dictionary entries near thicken
- thick-witted
- thick-skulled
- thick-skinned
- thick
- Thibetan
- Thibet
- thiazole
- thiazine
- thiamine
- thiamin
- thickener
- thickening
- thicket
- thicketed
- thickhead
- thickheaded
- thickheadedness
- thickish
- thickly
- thickness
