Word
thickness
Phoneticsthick·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈθɪknəs/
UK/θˈɪknəs/
Definitions
01measurement of depth
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the distance between the front and back or top and bottom surfaces of something.
n. the dimension of an object measured through its smallest side, perpendicular to its length and width.
“The thickness of the walls helps keep the house warm in winter.”
“The engineer calculated the required thickness of the steel plating to ensure it could withstand the pressure of the deep-sea environment.”
Antonyms
02liquid consistency
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. how heavy, solid, or sticky a liquid is.
n. the degree of viscosity or density in a fluid or semi-solid substance.
“Cook the sauce for ten minutes until it reaches the right thickness.”
“The chef adjusted the thickness of the gravy by adding a small amount of cornstarch mixed with cold water.”
Antonyms
03a layer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a single layer of a material.
n. a single layer or stratum of a substance, often used when multiple layers are applied.
“Use a double thickness of paper so the ink doesn't bleed through.”
“The winter coat featured a triple thickness of insulation, making it suitable for Arctic expeditions.”
04lack of intelligence
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Informal · British English
n. the quality of being slow to understand things.
n. the state of being intellectually slow or dull-witted.
“I couldn't believe his thickness when he failed to see the obvious joke.”
“The manager was often frustrated by the sheer thickness of the new recruits who struggled with basic safety protocols.”
Teaching tip
This sense is primarily British and can be quite insulting; use 'slow' or 'unintelligent' in professional contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Here, we show that the subjectively perceived “thickness” of liquid foods, or the force needed to make the sample flow or deform in the mouth, can be directly related to their non-Newtonian rheology.” “Protein isn’t the only thing that makes you feel full. Thickness, it turns out, can also do the trick.” Etymology
From Middle English thikkenesse, thiknesse, from Old English þicnes (“thickness, viscosity, density, hardness; obscurity, cloud, darkness; thicket; depth, a thick body, anything thick or heavy”), from Proto-West Germanic *þikkwīnassī (“thickness”), equivalent to thick + -ness. Cognate with West Frisian tsjokkens (“thickness”), Old High German dickinessī, dikkinissi, diknissi (“thickness, density”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English crassitude (“thickness”) from Latin crassitūdō (“thickness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/thickness