thin: Meaning and Definition of

thin

Pronunciation: (thin), [key]
— adj., adv., v., thin•ner, thin•nest, thinned, thin•ning.
—adj.
  1. having relatively little extent from one surface or side to the opposite; not thick: thin ice.
  2. of small cross section in comparison with the length; slender: a thin wire.
  3. having little flesh; spare; lean: a thin man.
  4. composed of or containing objects, particles, etc., widely separated; sparse: thin vegetation.
  5. scant; not abundant or plentiful.
  6. of relatively slight consistency or viscosity: thin soup.
  7. rarefied, as air.
  8. without solidity or substance; flimsy: a very thin plot for such a long book.
  9. lacking fullness or volume; weak and shrill: a thin voice.
  10. without force or a sincere effort: a thin smile.
  11. lacking body, richness, or strength: a thin wine.
  12. lacking in chroma; of light tint.
  13. (of a developed negative) lacking in density or contrast through underdevelopment or underexposure.
—adv.
  1. in a thin manner.
  2. sparsely; not densely.
  3. so as to produce something thin: Slice the ham thin.
—v.t.
  1. to make thin or thinner (often fol. by down, out, etc.).
—v.i.
  1. to become thin or thinner; become reduced or diminished (often fol. by down, out, off, etc.): The crowd is thinning out.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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