Thin
/θɪn/
Definitions
3 meaningsHaving little width or thickness.
/θɪn/
Having a small distance between opposite sides; not thick.
The paper was so thin that you could see through it.
💡 Simply: Thin means something doesn't have much space between its sides. Like a slice of bread or a pencil line. It's easy to see through or bend because it's so narrow.
👶 For kids: Not thick. Like a piece of paper or a line you draw.
More Examples
He had a thin beard.
The walls of the house were very thin, so we could hear the neighbors.
How It's Used
"She had a thin face and a slender build."
"The fabric was thin, almost see-through."
"The soup was a bit thin; it needed more seasoning."
Not dense or crowded; sparse.
/θɪn/
Lacking in density or abundance.
The soup was a bit thin and needed more ingredients.
💡 Simply: Imagine something that's spread out, like when your hair is a bit see-through on top. Or if there aren't many trees in a forest. It's not full or thick.
👶 For kids: Not a lot of something. Like not many trees in a forest.
More Examples
The evidence was thin and unconvincing.
There was a thin layer of snow on the ground.
How It's Used
"The forest had a thin population of wildlife."
"He had a thin covering of hair."
"The air was thin at the top of the mountain."
To make or become less dense or concentrated.
/θɪn/
To make or become less dense.
She thinned her hair by adding some layers.
💡 Simply: Making something less thick or crowded. Like adding water to paint to make it spread easier, or fewer people in a group.
👶 For kids: To make something not as thick. Like watering down juice.
More Examples
The sauce was too thick, so she thinned it with broth.
The police thinned the crowd by asking people to move on.
How It's Used
"I thinned the sauce with a little water."
"The crowd thinned as the concert ended."
"The farmer will thin the rows of plants to ensure the best yield."
Synonyms
Fine
Lean
Narrow
Slender
Slim
Meager
Rare
Sparse
Dilute
Reduce
Antonyms
Broad
Chubby
Fat
Thick
Abundant
Dense
Full
Plentiful
Concentrate
Increase
Intensify
Idioms & expressions
thin on the ground
Rare or not plentiful; scarce.
"Good job opportunities are thin on the ground in this area."
thin ice
A dangerous or risky situation.
"You're on thin ice if you don't finish your work on time."
thin air
To disappear suddenly or cease to exist; To create something from nothing.
"The magician made the rabbit disappear into thin air."
From Old English þynne, related to the Proto-Germanic *þunwaz. Its origins trace back to Proto-Indo-European roots signifying 'to stretch' or 'to extend'.
Historically, 'thin' has been used to describe physical attributes, scarcity, and to denote something lacking in substance or quality. Its use is found in texts dating back to the Old English period, evolving to encompass more abstract meanings over time.
Memory tip
Imagine a slice of paper – it's very thin.