thin

Formsthinner, thinnest

Formsthins, thinning, thinned

Pluralthins

1. 1
   adjective

   Not thick. With sides or surfaces close together, like a thin slice, wall, wire, or needle.

   Like a sheet of paper, where there is hardly any space from front to back.

   The ice on the pond was too thin to walk on.

   She sliced the bread into thin pieces for the sandwiches.

   UsageSay a narrow road or door, but a thin slice or wall.

   Similarfine, narrow, slender

   Oppositethick, wide

2. 2
   not fatadjective

   Having very little body fat and not much flesh.

   The stray cat looked thin and hungry by the back door.

   He grew very thin after his long illness.

   UsageSlim is a nicer word for this. Skinny can sound rude.

   Similarslim, slender, lean, skinny, slight

   Oppositefat, plump, stout, overweight

3. 3
   adjective

   Few in number or spread out. Not crowded or thick, like thin hair or a thin crowd.

   Like a few people scattered across a big, empty room.

   The crowd was thin at the early morning show.

   The trees grew thin near the top of the mountain.

   UsagePeople say thin on the ground for things that are hard to find.

   Similarsparse, scanty, meager, light

   Oppositedense, thick, heavy

   Note
4. 4
   become less thickverbintransitive

   To become less thick or less crowded.

   The fog began to thin as the sun rose over the bay.

   His hair started to thin as he got older.

   UsageOften thin out. Thinning hair is slowly getting less thick.

   Similardisperse, dwindle, dissipate, scatter, diminish

   Oppositethicken, swell

5. 5
   adjective

   So slight or weak that it is not enough, like a flimsy excuse or a poor cover.

   Like a coat of paint so light you can still see what's underneath.

   His excuse for being late was pretty thin.

   The proof against him was thin, so the police let him go.

   UsageSay a thin excuse. If a joke wears thin, people get tired of it.

   Similarflimsy, tenuous, weak, slight, feeble

   Oppositesolid, strong, substantial, convincing

   Note
6. 6
   adjective

   Weak or watery, without much fullness or strength.

   Like juice that has had too much water added to it.

   Her voice sounded thin and weak on the phone.

   The old speakers make the music sound thin.

   Similarweak, feeble, faint, watery, reedy

   Oppositerich, full, strong, robust

7. 7
   adjective

   Of a liquid, runny and flowing easily instead of thick.

   Like water, which pours fast, not like thick honey.

   The melted chocolate was too thin to coat the strawberries.

   Pour the thin syrup over the warm pancakes.

   Similarrunny, watery, fluid

   Oppositethick, viscous

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To make something less thick, often by adding water or another liquid to it.

   Use a rolling pin to thin the dough.

   The barber thinned my thick hair so it felt lighter.

   UsageSay thin the paint with water.

   Similardilute, weaken, pare

   Oppositethicken, concentrate

   Note
9. 9
   remove plantsverbtransitive

   To take away some young plants or fruits so the rest have room to grow well.

   Like moving some chairs out of a packed room so people can spread out.

   Gardeners thin the carrots so each one gets enough room.

   We need to thin these seedlings before they crowd each other out.

   UsageSay thin the carrots, meaning pull some out so the rest can grow.

   Note

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