Meaning & Definition of word "Thin"

Thin

/θɪn/

noun:

  • 1. A thin person or thing.
    • Example: She was a thoughtful thin, often lost in her books.

verb:

  • 1. To make or become thinner.
    • Example: The artist decided to thin the paint with water for a lighter effect.
  • 2. To reduce in density or quantity.
    • Example: They will thin the population of fish in the pond to ensure their growth.

adjective:

  • 1. Having little thickness or depth; not thick.
    • Example: She wore a thin sweater on the chilly day.
  • 2. Lacking strength or substance; fragile.
    • Example: The thin ice cracked under their weight.
  • 3. With little quantity or density.
    • Example: He spread a thin layer of butter on the toast.

Etymology

Old English 'þynne', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'dun' and German 'dünn'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

thin ice:

A situation that is risky or precarious.

thin slice:

A small or slender piece cut from something larger.

thin line:

A subtle distinction between two things.

Related Words

thinning:

Making or becoming thinner.

thinnest:

Of the least thickness.

Slang Meanings of thin

Meaning: Thin can refer to someone who is underweight or very skinny.

Example Sentence: After months of stress, he looked super thin.

Meaning: Thin can also mean lacking in substance or depth.

Example Sentence: The plot of that movie was really thin.