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thick

Pronunciation: /θɪk/

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Definition of thick

adjective

  • 1with opposite sides or surfaces that are far or relatively far apart:thick slices of bread thick metal cables the walls are 5 feet thick
  • (of a garment or other knitted or woven item) made of heavy material:a thick sweater
  • (of writing or printing) consisting of broad lines:a headline in thick black type
  • 2made up of a large number of things or people close together:his hair was long and thick the road winds through thick forest
  • (thick with) densely filled or covered with:the ground was thick with yellow leaves figurativethe air was thick with tension
  • (of the air or atmosphere, or a substance in the air) opaque, dense, or heavy:a motorway pile-up in thick fog a thick cloud of smoke
  • (of a person’s head) having a dull pain or heavy feeling, especially as a result of a hangover or illness: influenza can cause a thick head Stephen woke late, his head thick and his mouth sour
  • 3(of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely:thick mud
  • 4 informal of low intelligence; stupid:he’s a bit thick
  • 5(of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky: Guy’s voice was thick with desire a snarling thick voice
  • (of an accent) very marked and difficult to understand: he explained in his thick brogue a thick French accent
  • 6 [predic.] informal having a very close, friendly relationship:he’s very thick with the new master

noun

(the thick)
  • the most active or crowded part of something:we were in the thick of the battle

adverb

  • in or with deep, dense, or heavy mass:bread spread thick with butter

Phrases

be thick on the ground

see ground1.

a bit thick

British informal unfair or unreasonable: I thought this was a bit thick and tried to defend myself

give someone (or get) a thick ear

British informal punish someone (or be punished) with a blow on the ear or head: if I thought you were serious, I would give you a thick ear!

have a thick skin

see skin.

thick and fast

rapidly and in great numbers: replies are coming in thick and fast

(as) thick as a brick

another way of saying thick as two planks below.

(as) thick as thieves

informal (of two or more people) very close or friendly: he and Auntie Lou were thick as thieves

(as) thick as two (short) planks (or as a plank)

British informal very stupid: that school is where you are sent if you are thick as two planks but sporty

the thick end of something

British informal the greater part of something:he was borrowing the thick end of £750 every week

through thick and thin

under all circumstances, no matter how difficult:they stuck together through thick and thin

Derivatives

thickish

adjective

thickly

adverb
[as submodifier]:thickly carpeted corridors

Origin:

Old English thicce, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dik and German dick

thick in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of thick in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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