Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - tight

~1 adj 1 »CLOTHES« fitting a part of your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable  (tight trousers | My shoes were far too tight and I was in agony by the time I got home. | be a tight fit (=only just fits someone))  (The top is rather a tight fit.)  (- see also skin­tight, tight­fitting) 2 »PULLED/STRETCHED« string, wire, cloth etc that is tight has been pulled or stretched firmly so that it is straight or cannot move  (pull sth tight)  (Pull the thread tight. | The bandage must be tight enough to stop the bleeding.) 3 »FIRMLY FIXED/FASTENED« something such as a screw or lid that is tight is firmly fixed and is difficult to move  (Check that the screws are tight.) 4 a tight hold/grip a firm hold on something  (His mother kept a tight hold on his hand.) 5 »STRICT CONTROL« controlled very strictly and firmly  (Spending is kept within very tight limits. | Security was very tight for the president's visit. | keep a tight rein on (=control someone or something very strictly) | run a tight ship (=manage a company, organization etc very effectively by having strict rules)) 6 »MONEY« informal a) if money is tight, you do not have enough of it  (money is tight/things are tight)  (Money was tight and he needed a job badly.) b) someone who is tight is not generous and tries very hard to avoid spending money; mean2 (2)  (- see also tight­fisted) 7 »LITTLE TIME« if time is tight, it is difficult for you to do everything you need to do in the time available  (tight schedule/deadline (=one that gives you very little time to do or finish something))  (a tight deadline | It'll be a bit tight, but we should just get there and back in time.) 8 »LITTLE SPACE« if space is tight, there is only just enough space to fit something into a place  (a tight squeeze/fit (=a situation where there is only just enough space for things or people to fit))  (It was a tight squeeze, but somehow we all got into the car.) 9 »CLOSE TOGETHER« placed or standing very close together  (She wore her hair in a tight bun.) 10 »CLOSE RELATIONSHIP« a tight group of people, countries etc have a close relationship with each other and are closely connected with each other 11 »CHEST/STOMACH ETC« feeling painful or uncomfortable, because you are ill or worried  (He had been complaining of a tight chest and sore throat.) 12 »SMILE/EXPRESSION/VOICE ETC« showing that you are annoyed, or upset  (Her mother gave a tight, forced smile.)  (- see also tight­lipped) 13 »BEND/TURN« very curved so that it turns very quickly to another direction  (Careful now, there's a tight bend coming up.) 14 in a tight corner/spot informal in a difficult situation  (I'm always willing to help a friend in a tight spot.) 15 »PLAY/PERFORMANCE« performed very exactly, with no unnecessary pauses  (a tight, well-rehearsed production) 16 »GAME/COMPETITION« a tight game, competition etc is one in which the teams, competitors etc all play well and it is not easy to win  (It was a tight match, with the winning goal scored in the final minute.) 17 »DRUNK« never before noun old-fashioned informal drunk  (- see also airtight, watertight) - tightly adj  (Marie held the baby tightly in her arms.) - tightness n ~2 adv very firmly or closely; tightly  (hold tight)  (Hold tight to the safety rail. | keep sth tight shut)  (I kept my eyes tight shut and hoped they would go away.)  (- see also sit tight sit (5), sleep tight sleep1 (4))