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thick

1. Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick. Were it as thick as is a branched oak. (Chaucer) My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. (1 kings xii. 10)

2. Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.

3. Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness. Make the gruel thick and slab. (Shak)

4. Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain. In a thick, misty day.

5. Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring. The people were gathered thick together. (Luke xi. 29) Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood. (Dryden)

6. Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.

7. Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.

8. Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing. His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible. (Shak)

9. Intimate; very friendly; familiar. We have been thick ever since. (T. Hughes)

Thick is often used in the formation of compounds, most of which are self-explaining; as, thick-barred, thick-bodied, thick-coming, thick-cut, thick-flying, thick-gro 8cf wing, thick-leaved, thick-lipped, thick-necked, thick-planted, thick-ribbed, thick-shelled, thick-woven, and the like. Thick register.

See the note under register. Thick stuff, all plank that is more than four inches thick and less than twelve.

Synonym: Dense, close, compact, solid, gross, coarse.

Origin: OE. Thicke, AS. Icce; akin to D. Dik, OS. Thikki, OHG. Dicchi thick, dense, G. Dick thick, Icel. Ykkr, jokkr, and probably to Gael. & Ir. Tiugh. Cf. Tight.

To thicken. The nightmare life-in-death was she, who thicks man's blood with cold. (Coleridge)

Origin: Cf. AS. Iccian.