thin
| Jump To: |
|
| Also found in: |
|
thin (t̸hin)
adjective thinner thin′·ner, thinnest thin′·nest
- having relatively little depth; of little extent from one surface or side to the opposite thin paper
- having relatively small diameter in relation to length thin thread
- having little fat or flesh; lean; gaunt; slender
- having the constituent elements small in number and not close together; specif.,
- scanty in growth; sparsely distributed thin hair
- small in size or number thin receipts
- lacking body; not thick in consistency; watery thin soup
- not dense or heavy thin smoke, a thin snowfall
- rarefied, as air at high altitudes
- of little intensity; dim; faint; pale thin colors
- of little volume or resonance; high-pitched and weak a thin voice
- light or sheer, as fabric
- easily seen through; flimsy or unconvincing a thin excuse
- lacking solidity, substance, or vigor; slight, weak, vapid, etc. a thin plot, thin argument
- Photog. lacking in density (sense ): said of an underexposed or underdeveloped negative or print
Etymology: ME thinne < OE thynne, akin to Ger dünn < IE *tenu-, thin < base *ten-, to stretch > L tenuis, thin, tenere, to hold, tendere & Gr teinein, to stretch
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
thin
modif.
Of little thickness
flimsy, slim, slight, tenuous, attenuated, diaphanous, sheer, rare, sleazy, permeable, paper-thin, wafer-sliced; see also transparent 1.Slender
slim, lean, skinny, scraggy, lank, lanky, spindly, spare, gaunt, bony, wan, rangy, skeletal, scrawny, lanky, delicate, wasted, haggard, emaciated, rawboned, shriveled, wizened, rickety, spindling, pinched, starved; see also dainty 1.Sparse
scarce, insufficient, deficient; see inadequate 1.Having little content
sketchy, slight, insubstantial, weak-kneed, vapid, weak, light, feeble, flat, diluted, thinly stretched; see also shallow 1, 2.Antonyms
thick*, solid*, substantial. * Having little volume
faint, shrill, piping, weak, rarefied, tenuous, attenuated, fragile, small, tiny, featherweight, bodiless, disembodied, ethereal, shaky; see also light 7.
thin
v.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preposition: on
- ground: Extras are a little thin on the ground, which is a polite way to say there aren't any.
Adjective complement with noun phrase
- wear: Remember we still had no heating or hot water the pioneer spirit was beginning to wear a bit thin.
Modifies a noun
- layer: Turn up the shine with a thin layer of clear lip gloss over lipstick or alone.
Used with adjective complement
- wear: These excuses have now begun to wear thin however.
Modifying Another Word
- painfully: She was painfully thin, with a pale, almost yellow complexion.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Imprisoned inevery fat manathinoneiswildlysignalling to be let out.
As thin and neat as a furled umbrella.
A pallid and thin young man, A haggard and lank young man, A greenery-yallery,Grosvenor Gallery, Foot-in-the-grave young man! A Sewell & Cross young man, A Howell & James young man, A push-ing young par-ti-cleö 'What's the next ar-ti-cle?'ö Wa-ter-loo House young man!
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Link to this page:
Cite this page:
MLA Style
"thin." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/thin>
APA Style
thin. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/thin

Comments:
Please Login or Register to post a comment