thin
thin Lexical Profile
thin Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having a relatively small distance between opposite surfaces or sides; not thick.
"She sliced the crusty bread into thin pieces for the sandwiches."
Having little bodily flesh or fat; lean or slender in build.
"After weeks of recovering from the illness, the patient looked noticeably pale and thin."
Flowing freely and having a low viscosity; watery or diluted (of a liquid or mixture).
"If the gravy is too thin, you can simmer it longer or whisk in a spoonful of cornstarch."
Not dense, closely packed, or abundant; sparse or scant.
"At high altitudes, the mountain air becomes thin and difficult to breathe."
Lacking substance, strength, or credibility; unconvincing or flimsy.
"The defendant offered a very thin excuse for his absence on the night of the incident."
• verb
To make or become less dense, crowded, or numerous; to reduce the density of plants, hair, or a group.
"The gardener decided to thin the carrot seedlings so the remaining roots would have enough room to grow."
To make a liquid or mixture less viscous or concentrated by adding another liquid.
"You can thin the oil paint with a small amount of turpentine before applying the base coat."
• adverb
In a thin manner, layer, or slice; so as to be thin or sparse.
"Roll the pastry dough out thin before lining the tart pan."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing human body weight, 'thin' is relatively neutral, whereas 'slender' and 'slim' carry positive, graceful connotations, and 'skinny' or 'scrawny' often sound slightly critical or unhealthily underweight.
• Rhymes for thin
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'þynne', of Proto-Germanic origin (*thunniz), ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten- meaning 'to stretch' (as stretched material becomes thin), which also gave rise to Latin 'tenuis' and English 'tender' and 'tense'.