Word
Definition
n. a liquid you add to paint or glue to make it thinner and easier to use.
n. a volatile solvent used to reduce the viscosity of paints, varnishes, or adhesives for easier application.
Examples
“Add a little thinner to the paint so it flows better.”
“The artist used a small amount of paint thinner to clean the oil residue from her brushes before they dried.”
“Industrial-grade thinner must be handled with care in well-ventilated areas due to the high concentration of volatile organic compounds that can cause respiratory irritation.”
Examples
simple
“Add a little thinner to the paint so it flows better.”
contextual
“The artist used a small amount of paint thinner to clean the oil residue from her brushes before they dried.”
complex
“Industrial-grade thinner must be handled with care in well-ventilated areas due to the high concentration of volatile organic compounds that can cause respiratory irritation.”
Usage
Often used in the compound 'paint thinner'.
Real-World Examples
“The nanoparticles are around a thousand times thinner than a human hair.” “It’s a few tenths of a millimeter thinner, but that’s not enough to notice unless you have both phones to compare.” Etymology
From thin + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/thinner
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR