θɪn adj., adv., & v. --adj. (thinner, thinnest) 1 having
the opposite surfaces close
together; of
small thickness or
diameter. 2 a (of a line)
narrow or fine. b (of a
script or
type etc.) consisting of thin lines. 3
made of thin
material (a thin dress). 4 lean;
not plump. 5 a not
dense or
copious (thin
hair; a thin haze). b not full or closely packed (a thin audience). 6 of
slight consistency (a thin paste). 7
weak;
lacking an
important ingredient (thin
blood; a thin voice). 8 (of an
excuse,
argument,
disguise, etc.)
flimsy or
transparent. --adv. thinly (cut the
bread very thin). --v. (thinned, thinning) 1 tr. & intr.
make or
become thin or
thinner. 2 tr. & intr. (often foll. by out)
reduce; make or become
less dense or crowded or
numerous. 3 tr. (often foll. by out)
remove some of a
crop of (seedlings, saplings, etc.) or some
young fruit from (a
vine or tree) to
improve the
growth of the rest. øhave a thin
time colloq.
have a
wretched or
uncomfortable time. on thin
ice see ICE. thin
air a
state of invisibility or non-existence (vanished
into thin air). thin
end of the wedge see
WEDGE(1). thin on the ground see
GROUND(1). thin on top balding. thin-skinned
sensitive to
reproach or
criticism;
easily upset. øøthinly adv. thinness n. thinnish adj. [OE thynne f. Gmc]
