thick
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ldoce_334_ethick1 /θɪk/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative thicker, superlative thickest) 1 not thin 厚；粗THICK OBJECT OR MATERIALif something is thick, there is a large distance or a larger distance than usual between its two opposite surfaces or sides 厚的；粗的 OPP thin a thick oak door 一扇厚实的橡木门 a thick slice of homemade bread 一片厚厚的自制面包 He was wearing thick glasses. 他戴着厚厚的眼镜。 short thick fingers 短粗的手指 thick wool socks (=socks that are heavy and warm) 厚厚的羊毛袜子 If you want a thicker blanket, there are more here in the closet. 如果你想要更厚的毯子，这个柜子里还有。 The meat is done when the thickest part turns from pink to white. 肉最厚的部分从粉红色变成白色，就说明熟了。thick with The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture). 家具上蒙了厚厚一层灰尘。2 measurement 测量 measuring a particular distance between two opposite sides or surfaces of something 有…厚的3 feet/1 cm/two inches etc thick The walls are about two meters thick. 墙大约两米厚。 How thick should the glass in the tank be? 水箱的玻璃应该要多厚？ This layer of brain tissue is no thicker than 2 mm. 这层脑组织的厚度不超过2毫米。3 trees/bushes etc 树木/灌木等HBP growing very close together or having a lot of leaves 茂密的，繁茂的 SYN dense birds hiding in the thick undergrowth 躲在茂密的灌木丛里的鸟thick with The walls were thick with ivy. 墙上爬满了常春藤。4 smoke/cloud etc 烟/云等THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL filling the air, and difficult to see through or breathe in 浓密的；混浊的 SYN dense thick fog 浓雾thick with The air was thick with cigarette smoke. 空气里满是浓重的香烟味。5 liquid 液体THICK LIQUID almost solid, and therefore flowing very slowly, or not flowing at all 稠的，浓的 For a thicker gravy, add more flour. 想要肉汁浓一点，就再加些面粉。 The paint is too thick. 油漆太稠了。6 hair/fur 毛发/皮毛 having a lot of hair or fur 浓密的 She ran her fingers through her thick brown hair. 她用手指拢了拢她那浓密的褐色头发。7 stupid 愚蠢的 British English informalSTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT a thick person is stupid 愚蠢的，傻的 He’s a nice guy, but he’s a bit thick. 他是个好人，但有点傻。(as) thick as two short planks (=very stupid) 十分愚蠢8 voice 声音9 large amount 大量LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT especially written containing a lot of people or things 大量的10 be thick on the ground British English to be present or available in large amounts or numbers 到处都是，随处可见 OPP thin on the ground11. have a thick skin DON'T CAREto not care if people criticize you or do not like you 厚脸皮〔指不介意别人的批评或反感〕 → thick-skinned12 FRIENDLY 友好的be (as) thick as thieves FRIENDLYif two people are as thick as thieves, they are very friendly with each other and seem to share a lot of secrets, making other people think they are hiding or planning something 非常亲密13 give somebody a thick ear/get a thick ear British English spokenHIT to hit someone or be hit on the head, as a punishment 打某人的耳光/被打耳光14. be thick with somebody old-fashionedFRIENDLY to be very friendly with someone 与某人交情甚笃15. (it’s) a bit thick British English old-fashionedUNFAIR used to say something is a little unfair or annoying 不怎么公平；有点烦人Examples from the Corpus
thick• If you want to make the sauce thicker, add flour.• Bill's voice was thick and gruff.• The tensions aboard the boat are as thick and ominous as thunderstorm clouds gathering over the ocean.• Some of the students they let in these days are as thick as two short planks.• You have such thick, beautiful hair.• a thick blanket of fog• In the hills, all the houses are surrounded by thick brush.• Not wishing to appear thick, but what exactly are you doing?• Thick clouds of black smoke went up from the oil fires.• Thicker curtains will give you more privacy.• Is this gravy thick enough?• a thick forest• The mortar joints between bricks were thick, generally about the same as the bricks themselves.• Stark clasped his thick hands behind his head.• He's a nice boy, but he's a bit thick, isn't he?• a thick layer of frosting• The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow.• She landed flat on her face in thick mud.• shoes with thick rubber soles• The running lights flashed off and a thick silence filled up the day.• a thick slice of bread• I prod it with a fork and brown it on the fire before introducing it to the thick slice of toast.• thick spaghetti sauce• It's an old house with very thick stone walls.• The ceiling was low and there was a thick, suffocating feel to the air and a stale, old stench.• thick vegetable soup• The thick walls insulate against the winter cold.thick with dust• The air is thick with dust, accumulated over years of not-remembering, years of not wanting to know.• The room was festooned with cobwebs, the air musty and thick with dust and disuse.• Erratic hot winds kept the air thick with dust, and the fan gave small comfort to the feverish, aching children.• They were thick with dust, Anna said, but they too would never be removed.thick with ... smoke• Even the sunlight was blocked out by layers of muslin, and the air was thick with perfumed smoke.• I sit watching Victor's television through stale air thick with tobacco smoke.• The air in the room grew thick with tobacco smoke.• The air was thick with cigarette smoke.• The room was thick with stale cigarette smoke and strong sunlight pierced through every gap in the curtained windows.thick2 adverb 1 THICK LIQUIDthickly. Many teachers think this is not correct English 厚厚地〔许多教师认为这种用法不正确〕2 thick and fast OFTENLOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNTarriving or happening very frequently, in large amounts or numbers 大量而急速地；频繁且迅猛地 → lay it on (a bit thick) at layExamples from the Corpus
thick• Slice the cheese a little thicker.thick3 noun 1 in the thick of something TAKE PART/BE INVOLVEDinvolved in the busiest, most active, most dangerous etc part of a situation 在…的最繁忙[最活跃，最危险]时刻[部分]2 through thick and thin PROBLEMin spite of any difficulties or problems 赴汤蹈火，不畏艰险Examples from the Corpus
thick• The thickness of the old walls helped keep the rooms warm in winter and cool in summer.• But it is enough to keep her in the thick of the race.Origin thick1 Old English thicceis Corpus is something thick, large distance there if or a
thick
thick1 S2 W2 /θɪk/ 
adjective (comparative thicker, superlative thickest)
if something is thick, there is a large distance or a larger distance than usual between its two opposite surfaces or sides
OPP thin:
a thick oak door
a thick slice of homemade bread
He was wearing thick glasses.
short thick fingers
thick wool socks (=socks that are heavy and warm)
If you want a thicker blanket, there are more here in the closet.
The meat is done when the thickest part turns from pink to white.
thick with
The furniture was thick with dust (=there was thick dust on the furniture).
2. MEASUREMENT measuring a particular distance between two opposite sides or surfaces of something
3 feet/1 cm/two inches etc thick
The walls are about two meters thick.
How thick should the glass in the tank be?
This layer of brain tissue is no thicker than 2 mm.
3. TREES/BUSHES ETC growing very close together or having a lot of leaves
SYN dense:
birds hiding in the thick undergrowth
thick with
The walls were thick with ivy.
4. SMOKE/CLOUD ETC filling the air, and difficult to see through or breathe in
SYN dense:
thick fog
thick with
The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
5. LIQUID almost solid, and therefore flowing very slowly, or not flowing at all:
For a thicker gravy, add more flour.
The paint is too thick.
6. HAIR/FUR having a lot of hair or fur:
She ran her fingers through her thick brown hair.
7. STUPID British English informal a thick person is stupid:
He’s a nice guy, but he’s a bit thick.
(as) thick as two short planks (=very stupid)
8. VOICE
a. if someone has a thick accent, the way they speak shows clearly which particular place or part of a country they come from
a thick German/Yorkshire etc accent
Olga speaks English with a thick Russian accent.
b. if someone’s voice is thick, it is not as clear or high as usual, for example because they are upset:
Bill’s voice was thick and gruff.
thick with
Her voice was thick with emotion.
9. LARGE AMOUNT especially written containing a lot of people or things:
The cod were so thick in the water that they caught thousands very quickly.
thick with
The roads were thick with holiday traffic.
10. be thick on the ground British English to be present or available in large amounts or numbers
OPP thin on the ground:
Cheap houses aren’t as thick on the ground as they used to be.
11. have a thick skin to not care if people criticize you or do not like you ⇨ thick-skinned
12. FRIENDLY be (as) thick as thieves if two people are as thick as thieves, they are very friendly with each other and seem to share a lot of secrets, making other people think they are hiding or planning something:
Lately Nick and Lou have been as thick as thieves.
13. give somebody a thick ear/get a thick ear British English spoken to hit someone or be hit on the head, as a punishment:
Any more cheek from you and you’ll get a thick ear.
14. be thick with somebody old-fashioned to be very friendly with someone
15. (it’s) a bit thick British English old-fashioned used to say something is a little unfair or annoying
thick2 adverb
1. thickly. Many teachers think this is not correct English:
peanut butter spread thick
2. thick and fast arriving or happening very frequently, in large amounts or numbers:
Entries have been coming in thick and fast.
⇨ lay it on (a bit thick) at LAY ON(3)
thick3 noun
Brown hopes to be back in the thick of the action as soon as possible.
2. through thick and thin in spite of any difficulties or problems:
Then, families stuck together through thick and thin.
| I |
adjective (comparative thicker, superlative thickest) Word Family: noun: thick, thickness, thickener, thickening, thicko; verb: thicken; adverb: thickly; adjective: thick
Language: Old English
Origin: thicce
1. NOT THIN Origin: thicce
if something is thick, there is a large distance or a larger distance than usual between its two opposite surfaces or sides
OPP thin:
thick with
2. MEASUREMENT measuring a particular distance between two opposite sides or surfaces of something
3 feet/1 cm/two inches etc thick
3. TREES/BUSHES ETC growing very close together or having a lot of leaves
SYN dense:
thick with
4. SMOKE/CLOUD ETC filling the air, and difficult to see through or breathe in
SYN dense:
thick with
5. LIQUID almost solid, and therefore flowing very slowly, or not flowing at all:
6. HAIR/FUR having a lot of hair or fur:
7. STUPID British English informal a thick person is stupid:
(as) thick as two short planks (=very stupid)
8. VOICE
a. if someone has a thick accent, the way they speak shows clearly which particular place or part of a country they come from
a thick German/Yorkshire etc accent
b. if someone’s voice is thick, it is not as clear or high as usual, for example because they are upset:
thick with
9. LARGE AMOUNT especially written containing a lot of people or things:
thick with
10. be thick on the ground British English to be present or available in large amounts or numbers
OPP thin on the ground:
11. have a thick skin to not care if people criticize you or do not like you ⇨ thick-skinned
12. FRIENDLY be (as) thick as thieves if two people are as thick as thieves, they are very friendly with each other and seem to share a lot of secrets, making other people think they are hiding or planning something:
13. give somebody a thick ear/get a thick ear British English spoken to hit someone or be hit on the head, as a punishment:
14. be thick with somebody old-fashioned to be very friendly with someone
15. (it’s) a bit thick British English old-fashioned used to say something is a little unfair or annoying
| II |
adverb1. thickly. Many teachers think this is not correct English:
2. thick and fast arriving or happening very frequently, in large amounts or numbers:
⇨ lay it on (a bit thick) at LAY ON(3)
| III |
noun Word Family: noun: thick, thickness, thickener, thickening, thicko; verb: thicken; adverb: thickly; adjective: thick
1. in the thick of something involved in the busiest, most active, most dangerous etc part of a situation: 2. through thick and thin in spite of any difficulties or problems:
sometimes
Ways of talking about men and women 表示男女的说法
When you are writing or speaking English it is important to use language that includes both men and women equally. Some people may be very offended if you do not. 说写英语时，重要的是用词要把男女都包括在内，否则可能会冒犯某些人。
The human race 人类
Man andmankind have traditionally been used to mean 'all men and women'. Many people now prefer to usehumanity ,the human race ,human beings orpeople .* man 和 mankind 传统上用以指所有男性和女性，不过，现在许多人喜欢用 humanity、the human race、human beings 或 people。
Jobs 职业
The suffix -ess in names of occupations such asactress ,hostess andwaitress shows that the person doing the job is a woman. Many people now avoid these. Instead you can useactor orhost (althoughactress andhostess are still very common), or a neutral word, such asserver forwaiter andwaitress .后缀 -ess 在职业的名称如 actress、hostess 和 waitress 中表明从事此职业的是女性。目前，许多人避免用这些词。取而代之的是 actor 或 host（尽管 actress 和 hostess 仍然很常见）或用中性词如 server 取代 waiter 和 waitress。 Neutral words like assistant ,worker ,person orofficer are now often used instead of-man or-woman in the names of jobs. For example, you can usepolice officer instead ofpoliceman orpolicewoman , andspokesperson instead ofspokesman orspokeswoman . Neutral words are very common in newspapers, on television and radio and in official writing, in bothBrE NAmE 现在职业名称常用中性词如 assistant、worker、person 或 officer 取代 -man 或 -woman。例如可用 police officer 代替 policeman 或 policewoman，用 spokesperson 代替 spokesman 或 spokeswoman。在报刊、电视、广播和公文中，英式英语和美式英语都常用中性词。 When talking about jobs that are traditionally done by the other sex, some people say: a male secretary /nurse /model (NOTman ) ora woman /female doctor /barrister /driver . However this is now not usually used unless you need to emphasize which sex the person is, or it is still unusual for the job to be done by a man/woman.谈及传统上由另一性别干的工作时，有人用 male secretary/nurse/model（不用 man）或 woman/female doctor/barrister/driver 表示。不过现在这种用法不常见，除非要强调此人的性别，或由某性别干此工作仍然少见 ：◆ My daughter prefers to see a woman doctor. 我的女儿喜欢让女医生看病。 ◆ They have a male nanny for their kids. 他们有个男保姆照料孩子。 ◆ a female racing driver 女赛车手
Pronouns 代词
He used to be considered to cover both men and women.* he 过去被认为既指男性也指女性 ：◆ Everyone needs to feel he is loved. 人人都需要有被爱的感觉。 This is not now acceptable. Instead, after everybody ,everyone ,anybody ,anyone ,somebody ,someone , etc. one of the plural pronounsthey ,them , andtheir is often used.现在此用法不获认同。取而代之的是在 everybody、everyone、anybody、anyone、somebody、someone 等之后常用复数代词 they、them 和 their ：◆ Does everybody know what they want? 人人都知道自己需要什么吗？ ◆ Somebody's left their coat here. 有人把外衣落在这儿了。 ◆ I hope nobody's forgotten to bring their passport with them. 希望没人忘了随身带上护照。 Some people prefer to use he or she ,his or her , orhim or her in speech and writing.有人在口语和书面语中喜欢用 he or she、his or her 或 him or her ：◆ Everyone knows what's best for him- or herself. 人人都知道对自己来说什么是最好的。 He/she or(s)he can also be used in writing.* he/she 或 (s)he 亦可用于书面语中 ：◆ If in doubt, ask your doctor. He/she can give you more information. 如有疑问请向你的医生咨询，他／她会给你更多的信息。 (You may find that some writers just use 'she'.) 有些人只用 she。 ：These uses can seem awkward when they are used a lot. It is better to try to change the sentence, using a plural noun. 这种说法用得太多可能显得别扭。最好尽量改动句子，用复数名词。 ：Instead of saying 避免说 ：◆ A baby cries when he or she is tired you can say 可以说 ：◆ Babies cry when they are tired. 婴儿疲倦时会哭。
Ways of talking about men and women 表示男女的说法
When you are writing or speaking English it is important to use language that includes both men and women equally. Some people may be very offended if you do not. 说写英语时，重要的是用词要把男女都包括在内，否则可能会冒犯某些人。
The human race 人类
Man andmankind have traditionally been used to mean 'all men and women'. Many people now prefer to usehumanity ,the human race ,human beings orpeople .* man 和 mankind 传统上用以指所有男性和女性，不过，现在许多人喜欢用 humanity、the human race、human beings 或 people。
Jobs 职业
The suffix -ess in names of occupations such asactress ,hostess andwaitress shows that the person doing the job is a woman. Many people now avoid these. Instead you can useactor orhost (althoughactress andhostess are still very common), or a neutral word, such asserver forwaiter andwaitress .后缀 -ess 在职业的名称如 actress、hostess 和 waitress 中表明从事此职业的是女性。目前，许多人避免用这些词。取而代之的是 actor 或 host（尽管 actress 和 hostess 仍然很常见）或用中性词如 server 取代 waiter 和 waitress。 Neutral words like assistant ,worker ,person orofficer are now often used instead of-man or-woman in the names of jobs. For example, you can usepolice officer instead ofpoliceman orpolicewoman , andspokesperson instead ofspokesman orspokeswoman . Neutral words are very common in newspapers, on television and radio and in official writing, in bothBrE NAmE 现在职业名称常用中性词如 assistant、worker、person 或 officer 取代 -man 或 -woman。例如可用 police officer 代替 policeman 或 policewoman，用 spokesperson 代替 spokesman 或 spokeswoman。在报刊、电视、广播和公文中，英式英语和美式英语都常用中性词。 When talking about jobs that are traditionally done by the other sex, some people say: a male secretary /nurse /model (NOTman ) ora woman /female doctor /barrister /driver . However this is now not usually used unless you need to emphasize which sex the person is, or it is still unusual for the job to be done by a man/woman.谈及传统上由另一性别干的工作时，有人用 male secretary/nurse/model（不用 man）或 woman/female doctor/barrister/driver 表示。不过现在这种用法不常见，除非要强调此人的性别，或由某性别干此工作仍然少见 ：◆ My daughter prefers to see a woman doctor. 我的女儿喜欢让女医生看病。 ◆ They have a male nanny for their kids. 他们有个男保姆照料孩子。 ◆ a female racing driver 女赛车手
Pronouns 代词
He used to be considered to cover both men and women.* he 过去被认为既指男性也指女性 ：◆ Everyone needs to feel he is loved. 人人都需要有被爱的感觉。 This is not now acceptable. Instead, after everybody ,everyone ,anybody ,anyone ,somebody ,someone , etc. one of the plural pronounsthey ,them , andtheir is often used.现在此用法不获认同。取而代之的是在 everybody、everyone、anybody、anyone、somebody、someone 等之后常用复数代词 they、them 和 their ：◆ Does everybody know what they want? 人人都知道自己需要什么吗？ ◆ Somebody's left their coat here. 有人把外衣落在这儿了。 ◆ I hope nobody's forgotten to bring their passport with them. 希望没人忘了随身带上护照。 Some people prefer to use he or she ,his or her , orhim or her in speech and writing.有人在口语和书面语中喜欢用 he or she、his or her 或 him or her ：◆ Everyone knows what's best for him- or herself. 人人都知道对自己来说什么是最好的。 He/she or(s)he can also be used in writing.* he/she 或 (s)he 亦可用于书面语中 ：◆ If in doubt, ask your doctor. He/she can give you more information. 如有疑问请向你的医生咨询，他／她会给你更多的信息。 (You may find that some writers just use 'she'.) 有些人只用 she。 ：These uses can seem awkward when they are used a lot. It is better to try to change the sentence, using a plural noun. 这种说法用得太多可能显得别扭。最好尽量改动句子，用复数名词。 ：Instead of saying 避免说 ：◆ A baby cries when he or she is tired you can say 可以说 ：◆ Babies cry when they are tired. 婴儿疲倦时会哭。