thickening
thickening — noun
- thickeningsingular
- thickeningsplural
1. the process by which a liquid or soft substance changes from a runny or thin sta
the process by which a liquid or soft substance changes from a runny or thin state to a denser, less liquid one
The chef watched the thickening of the sauce as it simmered on the stove.
uncountable noun with 'the ... of' pattern
Cornflour mixed with cold water speeds up the thickening of gravies and stews.
collocation: thickening of [food]
The natural pectin in the fruit causes the thickening of the jam as it cools.
Constant stirring prevents lumps during the thickening of a white sauce on the hob.
- coagulation
more specific — refers to liquid turning semi-solid through a chemical reaction, not just becoming denser
- concentration
broader — can apply to removing water from a solution, not just natural thickening
- gelation
technical term used in food science and chemistry for the formation of a gel
- thinning
the opposite process of becoming more runny or liquid
2. a part of a surface or body tissue that is noticeably thicker or more swollen th
a part of a surface or body tissue that is noticeably thicker or more swollen than the surrounding area
The dermatologist felt a small thickening on Marco's forearm and decided to take a sample.
countable noun — 'a thickening' as a physical spot
An X-ray revealed a bony thickening on the athlete's elbow from years of heavy training.
domain: medical — 'bony thickening'
The gardener found a strange thickening on the stem of a rose bush.
A thickening near the tree trunk's base can point to an infection in the bark.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense refers to a specific physical location or spot that has thickened, not the process of thickening.
常見錯誤
3. a substance you mix into a runny fluid so it becomes denser and less watery
a substance you mix into a runny fluid so it becomes denser and less watery
Arrowroot powder is a popular gluten-free thickening for sauces and fruit desserts.
used with 'for' — 'thickening for [dish]'
The recipe recommends cornflour as the best thickening for the gravy at Christmas dinner.
Many ice-cream brands add a vegetable-based thickening to improve the texture of their products.
Hassan used a pinch of xanthan gum as a thickening in his dairy-free chocolate pudding.
- thickener
the more direct everyday synonym; 'thickening' as a noun for the substance is slightly more formal
- binding agent
broader — binding agents hold ingredients together, not just thicken liquids
- gelling agent
more specific — creates a gel-like solid rather than just a thicker liquid
用法筆記
Frequently used in cooking and food-manufacturing contexts. Common in ingredient lists on packaged foods.
thickening — adjective
- thickeningpositive
- more thickeningcomparative
- most thickeningsuperlative
1. describing an ingredient or product that is intended to make a liquid thicker an
describing an ingredient or product that is intended to make a liquid thicker and less runny when added to it
Thickening agents like cornflour should be mixed with cold water before use in hot liquids.
adjectival use before 'agent', 'powder', 'shampoo' — always attributive
The packet's label reads 'thickening powder for instant soups and stews' in bold print.
Beatriz bought a thickening shampoo designed to add volume to her thin, fine hair.
This thickening additive helps achieve a creamy texture in dairy-based products without extra fat.
- thickening-agent
identical in meaning; written as a compound noun when used with a hyphen
用法筆記
Almost always used attributively (before a noun). Typical nouns it modifies include: agent, powder, shampoo, additive, ingredient.
2. gradually becoming thicker, denser, or more opaque — used especially of fog, clo
gradually becoming thicker, denser, or more opaque — used especially of fog, clouds, smoke, darkness, or liquids that are changing state
The thickening fog reduced visibility on the motorway to less than ten metres.
common collocation: 'thickening fog'
Thickening clouds in the late afternoon sky hinted at a thunderstorm within the hour.
The thickening darkness forced the campers to set up their tents much earlier than planned.
A thickening layer of smoke filled the kitchen when the oil pan caught fire.
The thickening mixture bubbled loudly as Stephanie turned up the heat.
用法筆記
Describes a gradual observable change. Commonly used with weather phenomena (fog, clouds, darkness) and with cooking mixtures. Not used for sudden changes.