ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thinly

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈθɪnɫi// UK //θˈɪnli// thin·ly

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.


SIMPLE

She sliced the apples very thinly for the pie.

CONTEXTUAL

The butter was spread so thinly on the toast that you could barely taste it.

COMPLEX

The author's true intentions were thinly disguised behind a layer of heavy metaphor, making the political critique obvious to any attentive reader.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English þynnelich (“with thin material; thinly”); equivalent to thin + -ly.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies or the object of that verb.

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