Thick
/θɪk/
Definitions
5 meaningsHaving a considerable distance between opposite sides or surfaces; not thin.
/θɪk/
Having a large distance between two opposite surfaces or sides.
The dictionary was thick with many words.
💡 Simply: Imagine a book with lots of pages. That's thick! Or imagine a milkshake that's hard to drink because it's not runny. That's another kind of thick.
👶 For kids: When something is thick, it means it takes up a lot of space from top to bottom. Like a big, fat book!
More Examples
He wore a thick coat to keep warm.
She poured a thick layer of cream on her pie.
How It's Used
"The book had a thick cover."
"The sauce was too thick, so I added some water."
Made up of many things close together; dense.
/θɪk/
Closely set or crowded together.
The fog was thick, making it hard to see.
💡 Simply: Imagine a forest where the trees are close together. That's thick! Or think about a busy street with lots of people. That's also thick.
👶 For kids: When lots of things are close together, like a bunch of trees in a forest, that's thick too!
More Examples
A thick cloud of smoke billowed from the fire.
The air was thick with the smell of pine.
How It's Used
"The forest had thick vegetation."
"The crowd was thick with people."
Difficult to understand or penetrate; obscure.
/θɪk/
Difficult to understand or perceive.
The details of the case were thick and needed to be simplified.
💡 Simply: Imagine a mystery book where there are a lot of clues but they are not clear. That's the meaning of thick in this case. A complex situation.
👶 For kids: When things are jumbled up or hard to understand, like a puzzle with lots of pieces that are mixed up, that's thick!
More Examples
The fog was thick and the ship's crew could not see anything.
How It's Used
"The plot was thick with intrigue."
"The story became thick with details, which were hard to follow"
Of a person or their voice: not clear; indistinct.
/θɪk/
He spoke with a thick Southern accent.
💡 Simply: Sometimes when you have a cold, your voice is unclear, or 'thick'.
👶 For kids: Sometimes when you have a cold, your voice sounds a little muffled.
More Examples
The man had a thick and raspy voice.
How It's Used
"He spoke with a thick accent"
To a considerable degree; intensely.
/θɪk/
In a thick manner or to a great degree.
The air was thick with the smell of rain.
💡 Simply: Imagine a situation where a feeling or thing is very strong. That is what thick means here.
👶 For kids: Sometimes we use thick to describe a strong feeling, like a lot of something.
More Examples
The atmosphere was thick with suspicion.
The silence was thick and heavy.
How It's Used
"The air was thick with tension."
Synonyms
Chunky
Dense
Solid
Substantial
Close
Compact
Crowded
Complex
Convoluted
Obscure
Opaque
Husky
Muffled
Densely
Heavily
Intensely
Antonyms
Fine
Slender
Slim
Rare
Scattered
Sparse
Clear
Obvious
Simple
Articulate
Distinct
Lightly
Idioms & expressions
thick as thieves
Very close friends.
"Those two are thick as thieves; they're always together."
From Old English *þicce, from Proto-Germanic *þikkaz ('dense, thick'). Related to Dutch dik and German dick.
The word 'thick' has been used in the English language since Old English times, originally referring to physical density.
Memory tip
Think of a stack of pancakes – the more pancakes, the thicker the stack.