Word Adverb
thinly
adv.
manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈθɪnɫi/ UK /θˈɪnli/ thin·ly
Definition
adv.in a way that creates a very light or narrow layer. You use this to describe how something is spread, cut, or distributed.
adv.in a manner that results in a small thickness or a sparse distribution.
Examples
“She sliced the apples very thinly for the pie.”
“The butter was spread so thinly on the toast that you could barely taste it.”
“The author's true intentions were thinly disguised behind a layer of heavy metaphor, making the political critique obvious to any attentive reader.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or the object of that verb.
Etymology
From Middle English þynnelich (“with thin material; thinly”); equivalent to thin + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Middle English þynnelich
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated