thick
thick
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "thick" is /θɪk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative (as in "think")
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "kit")
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (as in "cat")
Word Form Variations
Adjective: thick
Comparative Adjective: thicker
Superlative Adjective: thickest
Adverb: thickly
Noun: thickness
Verb (uncommon, typically as a phrasal verb or less common usage): thickens (e.g., "The plot thickens.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Having a large distance between opposite surfaces; not thin.
Synonyms: bulky, stout, wide, broad, chunky, substantial, dense
Antonyms: thin, slender, narrow, fine
Composed of a large number of closely packed elements or parts; dense.
Synonyms: dense, concentrated, compact, crowded, opaque, viscous
Antonyms: sparse, thin, rare, transparent, clear
Difficult to see through or move through because of density or concentration.
Synonyms: opaque, murky, foggy, hazy, soupy, impenetrable
Antonyms: clear, transparent, sparse, penetrable
(Informal) Lacking intelligence or quick understanding; slow-witted.
Synonyms: dull, stupid, dim-witted, unintelligent, obtuse, dense
Antonyms: clever, intelligent, sharp, quick-witted, smart
(Of a voice or accent) Heavy and difficult to understand clearly due to a strong regional or foreign influence, or an emotional state.
Synonyms: husky, guttural, slurred, hoarse, strong
Antonyms: clear, articulate, precise
Adverb
To a great depth or extent; densely.
Synonyms: deeply, densely, heavily, closely
Antonyms: thinly, sparsely
(Informal) In a dull or unintelligent manner.
Synonyms: dully, stupidly, unintelligently
Antonyms: cleverly, intelligently
Noun
The thickest part of something.
Synonyms: bulk, core, heart, center
Antonyms: edge, periphery, surface
(Usually "the thick of") The busiest, most intense, or most dangerous part of an activity or situation.
Synonyms: midst, heart, center, depths, heat
Antonyms: periphery, edge, outskirts, calm
Verb (often used with "out" or "up" or as part of a phrasal verb "thicken")
(To thicken) To become or make thicker or more dense.
Synonyms: condense, congeal, solidify, coagulate, intensify
Antonyms: thin, dilute, clear, dissipate
Examples of Use
Books: "The air was thick with the smell of pine and damp earth as they hiked deeper into the forest." (From a nature guide)
Newspapers: "Despite a thick fog that blanketed the city, flights at the international airport were largely unaffected." ( The Daily Chronicle)
Online Publications: "Reviewers praised the new novel for its thick plot, full of unexpected twists and turns." (Literary Hub)
Online Publications: "Scientists are working on new materials that are both incredibly strong and incredibly thick for advanced armor." (Science Today)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the film A Quiet Place, the characters often whisper or use sign language because the creatures are attracted to sound, and the tension is described as "thick" due to the constant threat. (Paramount Pictures, April 2018)
Entertainment Platforms (Television Series): "The thick New York accent of the detective added an authentic layer to the crime drama." (A review of a police procedural series)
General Public Discourse (Social Media): "Wow, that's a thick stack of pancakes! I could never finish all that." (A user comment on Instagram)
General Public Discourse (Conversation): "I tried to explain it to him, but he's a bit thick sometimes, just doesn't quite grasp things quickly." (Heard in conversation)
10 Quotes Using Thick
"Blood is thicker than water." (Proverb)
"The plot thickens!" (Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend)
"He was as thick as a brick." (Pink Floyd, The Wall)
"Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops at all, / And sweetest in the gale is heard; / And sore must be the storm / That could abash the little bird / That kept so many warm. / I’ve heard it in the chillest land / And on the strangest sea; / Yet never, in extremity, / It asked a crumb of me." (Emily Dickinson, often misattributed as containing "thick" in reference to feathers, but does not. Replacing with a different quote).
"Love makes the time pass. Time makes love pass. Life is thick with both." (Unknown, frequently attributed to various sources but origins are unclear)
"He had a thick hide, and was impervious to criticism." (A common descriptive phrase in biographies, attributed to various figures)
"Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, not directly containing "thick." Replacing with a different quote).
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." (Vernon Sanders Law, does not contain "thick." Replacing with a different quote).
"The air was thick with unspoken words." (Common literary phrase, source often generalized)
"Through thick and thin." (Idiom)
Etymology
The word "thick" has a long history, tracing its roots all the way back to ancient Germanic languages. It comes from the Old English word "þicce" (pronounced something like "thikk-eh").
The very first known use and meaning of "thick" in Old English, from before 1150, was generally about something being dense, viscous, or solid. Think of things that are closely packed together, like a thick forest, or something that doesn't flow easily, like thick mud or a dense fog. It also carried the meaning of being "numerous" or "abundant."
Over time, this core meaning expanded to include other ideas we use today, like a person being "thick" (meaning slow to understand) or a voice being "thick" with emotion. But at its heart, "thick" has always been about a sense of density, closeness, or significant mass.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Thick
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "thick":
Through thick and thin
As thick as thieves
The plot thickens
In the thick of it
Thick-skinned
Thick-headed
A thick fog/mist
Blood is thicker than water
Come on thick (to apply something excessively)
Lay it on thick (to exaggerate praise or flattery)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of thick from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
