thick

1 of 3

adjective

ˈthik 

1

a

: having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite

a thick plank

b

: heavily built : thickset

2

a

: close-packed with units or individuals

the air was thick with snow

b

: occurring in large numbers : numerous

c

: viscous in consistency

thick syrup

d

: sultry, stuffy

e

: marked by haze, fog, or mist

thick weather

f

: impenetrable to the eye : profound

thick darkness

g

: extremely intense

thick silence

3

: measuring in thickness

12 inches thick

4

a

: imperfectly articulated : indistinct

thick speech

b

: plainly apparent : decided

a thick French accent

c

: producing inarticulate speech

a thick tongue

5

: obtuse, stupid

too thick to understand

6

: associated on close terms : intimate

was quite thick with his pastor

7

: exceeding bounds of propriety or fitness : excessive

called it a bit thick to be fired without warning

thickish

ˈthi-kish 

adjective

thickly adverb

thick

2 of 3

adverb

: in a thick manner : thickly

thick

3 of 3

noun

1

: the most crowded or active part

in the thick of the battle

2

: the part of greatest thickness

the thick of the thumb

Phrases

thick on the ground

: plentiful, abundant

Synonyms

Adjective

• chunky
• fat

Noun

• deep
• depth
• height
• middle
• midst

Examples of thick in a Sentence

Adjective

a thick layer of ice

a thick slice of ham

pizza with a thick crust

a bodybuilder with a thick, short body

The planks were two inches thick.

The log was 12 inches thick.

a dog with thick fur

She has thick, curly hair.

The fog was thick this morning.

Adverb

Apples hung thick on the trees.

Noun

in the thick of winter many Northerners are dreaming of tropical islands

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Therefore, don’t be surprised to see bucks bedding right on the edge of thick cover within some of the areas noted above. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 22 Nov. 2024

In almost any Auerbach oil painting, early or late, rawness is thick on the ground. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024

Adverb

For a slab of only a few inches (5 cm) thick, your line only needs to be about one-eighth of an inch (one-half cm) deep. —Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023

Cucinelli, however, isn’t one to play the purist: the collection also sees the designer dabble in fiber blends including a baby alpaca, wool and polyamide crewneck qnd a thick-looking mélange rollneck that is disarmingly composed of virgin wool, cashmere and silk. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2022

Noun

Heading into the thick of flu and COVID season, there have been some recent changes to vaccine recommendations for people over age 50. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2024

The questions answered by Garza in the memo indicate to me the City Council doesn't want anymore surprises, especially as the city gets into the thick of the permanent City Manager search. —Ella McCarthy, Austin American-Statesman, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English thikke, from Old English thicce; akin to Old High German dicki thick, Old Irish tiug

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thick

• a thick ear
• get it into/through one's thick skull
• get it through one's thick head
• give him a thick ear
• in the thick of
• so thick you could cut it with a knife
• thick and fast
• thick and thin
• thick around the middle
• thick as thieves
• thick skin
• thick-skinned
• thick-witted
• through thick and thin

Kids Definition

thick

1 of 3 adjective

ˈthik 

1

: having or being of great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite

a thick plank

2

: heavily built : thickset

3

a

: having units closely packed together : dense

a thick forest

b

: occurring in large numbers : numerous

flies were thick in the barn

c

: viscous sense 2

thick syrup

4

: marked by haze, fog, or mist

thick weather

5

: measuring in thickness

12 inches thick

6

a

: not clearly spoken

thick speech

b

: plainly obvious

a thick French accent

7

: stupid sense 1a

too thick to understand

8

: associated on close terms : intimate

those two are really thick

9

: going beyond what is proper or enough

the flattery was a bit thick

thickish

-ish 

adjective

thickly adverb

thick

2 of 3 noun

1

: the most crowded or active part

in the thick of things

2

: the part of greatest thickness

the thick of the thumb

thick

3 of 3 adverb

: in a thick manner : so as to be thick : thickly

misfortunes came thick and fast