dense

/dens/ (bre, ipa) · /dens/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈden(t)s/ (ame, mw)

dense — adjective

  • densepositive
  • densercomparative
  • densestsuperlative

1. having many parts packed closely together, making it hard to move through, see t

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having many parts packed closely together, making it hard to move through, see through, or breathe in

例句

Aiko could barely see the road ahead through the dense morning fog.

collocation: dense fog / dense smoke

The dense crowd at the station made it impossible for Diego to find his sister.

collocation: dense crowd / dense forest

同義詞
  • thick

    broader; can describe liquids, walls, or layers; 'dense' focuses on compactness of parts

  • compact

    more neutral and technical; often of objects or groups, not fog

反義詞
  • sparse

    opposite of dense crowds, vegetation

  • thin

    opposite of dense fog, smoke, or layers

文法句型

dense + noun

be + dense

用法筆記

Often describes crowds, forests, fog, smoke, or undergrowth. Works both before a noun (dense fog) and after a linking verb (the fog is dense).

常見錯誤

❌The dense sauce was very tasty.
✅The thick sauce was very tasty.
💡'dense' describes close-packed parts, not the thickness of a liquid.

2. having a lot of mass packed into a small volume, making the object weigh much mo

2.形容詞
釋義

having a lot of mass packed into a small volume, making the object weigh much more than you would expect from its size

例句

Lead is a very dense metal — a small cube of it feels surprisingly heavy.

collocation: dense metal / dense material

Mei chose a dense marble rolling pin because its weight helped her flatten dough easily.

collocation: dense marble; practical context showing density benefit

同義詞
  • heavy

    everyday word for high weight; 'dense' is more precise about mass-per-volume

  • compact

    suggests matter squeezed into a small space

反義詞
  • light

    low density; opposite in everyday and technical use

文法句型

dense + noun

be + dense

用法筆記

Common in scientific and technical contexts. A dense substance has high mass per unit volume. The noun form is 'density'.

常見錯誤

❌This cake is very dense — it tastes great.
✅This cake is very rich / heavy
💡it tastes great.' — 'dense' for food texture is informal and less common; use 'heavy' or 'rich' instead.

3. not quick to understand or learn things; slow-thinking

3.形容詞
釋義

not quick to understand or learn things; slow-thinking

例句

Tomás called his brother dense for missing the joke, but he only meant it teasingly.

informal register: calling someone dense

Yara felt dense when she could not solve the simple puzzle her friend finished in seconds.

同義詞
  • thick

    equally informal and derogatory

  • slow

    slightly milder; focuses on processing speed

  • dull

    formal and old-fashioned

反義詞
  • quick

    fast to understand

  • sharp

    mentally alert and intelligent

  • bright

    intelligent and quick-thinking

文法句型

be + dense

用法筆記

Can be offensive if used directly about a person's intelligence. Often softened with self-deprecation ('I felt so dense'). Prefer 'slow' or 'not quick to catch on' in polite conversation.

常見錯誤

❌My teacher is so dense — she gives too much homework.
✅My teacher is so strict / demanding
💡she gives too much homework.' — 'dense' means stupid, not strict or harsh.

4. packed with so many ideas or details that following it requires close attention

4.形容詞
釋義

packed with so many ideas or details that following it requires close attention and effort

例句

Priya found the philosophy textbook too dense to read before bed.

collocation: dense text / dense writing

The judge's ruling was so dense with legal terms that Bao had to read it twice.

pattern: dense with [details / references / information]

同義詞
  • complex

    suggests many interconnected parts; 'dense' suggests a large amount of content in a small space

  • condensed

    suggests deliberate compression; 'dense' can be a natural quality

反義詞

文法句型

dense + noun

be + dense

dense with + noun

用法筆記

Typically describes written or spoken material that is intellectually demanding, not unpleasantly long. Often collocates with 'dense with' to name what fills the text.

常見錯誤

❌The movie plot was too dense — I did not understand it.
✅The movie plot was too confusing / complicated
💡I did not understand it.' — 'dense' for plot implies information-packed, not necessarily confusing.