thin
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.having a small distance between two sides; not thick.
adj.having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite.
Simple“The ice on the lake is too thin to walk on safely.”
In context“The artisan used a thin blade to carve the intricate patterns into the delicate wooden box.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
adj.having little fat on the body.
adj.having little body fat or flesh; lean or slender in build.
Simple“He became very thin after being sick for two weeks.”
In context“The marathon runner had a thin, wiry frame that was perfectly suited for long-distance endurance.”
PitfallShe is very thin, she looks beautiful. She is very slim, she looks beautiful.'Thin' can sometimes sound negative or unhealthy; 'slim' is usually a compliment.
Antonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.flowing easily like water; not thick or sticky.
adj.of low viscosity or density; lacking substance or volume.
Simple“The air is very thin at the top of the mountain.”
In context“The sauce was too thin, so the chef decided to simmer it for another ten minutes to reduce the liquid.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having only a few people or things in a large space.
adj.distributed at wide intervals; not dense or crowded.
Simple“The crowd at the stadium was thin because of the heavy rain.”
In context“Vegetation becomes thin as you move further into the desert, with only a few hardy shrubs surviving the heat.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make something thinner or to reduce the number of things in a group.
v.to make or become thin or thinner in consistency or density; often used with 'out'.
Simple“You should thin the carrots so the remaining ones have room to grow.”
In context“The traffic began to thin out after the morning rush hour ended and the commuters reached their offices.”
UsageOften used as the phrasal verb 'thin out' when referring to crowds or plants.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.in a way that is not thick.
adv.in a scattered or sparse manner; not thickly.
Simple“Spread the butter thin on the toast so it is not too greasy.”
In context“The paint was applied so thin that the grain of the wood was still visible underneath.”
SynonymsAntonymsthickly
Usage thin film