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thin definition

thin (t̸hin)

adjective thinner thin′·ner, thinnest thin′·nest

  1. having relatively little depth; of little extent from one surface or side to the opposite thin paper
  2. having relatively small diameter in relation to length thin thread
  3. having little fat or flesh; lean; gaunt; slender
  4. having the constituent elements small in number and not close together; specif.,
    1. scanty in growth; sparsely distributed thin hair
    2. small in size or number thin receipts
    3. lacking body; not thick in consistency; watery thin soup
    4. not dense or heavy thin smoke, a thin snowfall
    5. rarefied, as air at high altitudes
  5. of little intensity; dim; faint; pale thin colors
  6. of little volume or resonance; high-pitched and weak a thin voice
  7. light or sheer, as fabric
  8. easily seen through; flimsy or unconvincing a thin excuse
  9. lacking solidity, substance, or vigor; slight, weak, vapid, etc. a thin plot, thin argument
  10. 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

adverb thinner thin′·ner, thinnest thin′·nest

in a thin way

transitive verb, intransitive verb thinned, thinning thin′·ning

to make or become thin or thinner, as in dimension, density, etc.

Etymology: ME thinnen < OE (ge)thynnian < the adj.

Related Forms:

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 Synonyms

thin

modif.

  1. Of little thickness

    flimsy, slim, slight, tenuous, attenuated, diaphanous, sheer, rare, sleazy, permeable, paper-thin, wafer-sliced; see also transparent 1.

    Antonyms thick*, heavy*, coarse. *

  2. 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.

    Antonyms fat*, obese*, heavy. *

  3. Sparse

    scarce, insufficient, deficient; see inadequate 1.

  4. 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. *

  5. Having little volume

    faint, shrill, piping, weak, rarefied, tenuous, attenuated, fragile, small, tiny, featherweight, bodiless, disembodied, ethereal, shaky; see also light 7.

    Antonyms thick*, heavy*, dense.


thin

v.

expand, thin out, disperse, weed out, dilute, edit, delete, rarefy, reduce, attenuate; see also decrease 2, weaken 2.


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.

thin Usage Examples

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.
thin usage examples (more)

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.

thin quotes

Imprisoned inevery fat manathinoneiswildlysignalling to be let out.

-Connolly, Cyril Vernon

As thin and neat as a furled umbrella.

-Emery,Jane

   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!

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

thin quotes (more)

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.

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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

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